As long as I get to be with nature, I’ll be happy. The chaparral biome, here in the California coastal desert, is one of the only environments like it in the world. There’s unique flora and fauna, like California poppies — neon bright orange when they bloom — with cultural significance for our people as they’re medicinal and edible. 

My parents — both teachers — made sure I knew the value of my education and my culture. I grew up in Boyertown, Penn., far from my family in Oklahoma, but staying connected to my community in the Comanche Nation was an essential part of my life. We would often spend summers in Oklahoma, where I was immersed in our culture and traditions. 

Tótsonii nisłį´ Hawaiian bá shíchíín. Hask’ąą hadzohí éí dashícheii dóó Hawaiian éí dashinálí.
I am Navajo and Native Hawaiian — two cultures defined by their advocacy and resilience. They fight for their responsibility for the land. This value deeply shapes my identity and my career goals.

I live in Alaska where I’ve spent many summers fishing with my family near Kenai. I’ve seen that here in Alaska, the health of the land and animals is directly related to the well-being of the rural population. Now, I am halfway through my studies at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where I major in chemistry. I hope to use my knowledge to bring about desperately needed improvements for the land.

As kid, I enjoyed Legos, building things, and playing in the sand and dirt. Now I get to do that full time. I finished my degree in civil engineering last spring at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), and I’m currently on a high-rise project for Graham as a project coordinator. These projects are hugely complex works of art. A big part of the job is the coordination between engineering, architects, and skilled trade workers. 

The First Nations Launch (FNL) program is not just about building rockets — it’s about building futures. In fact, FNL is transforming the aerospace landscape for Indigenous students. What began with a few tribal colleges has evolved into a dynamic program that fosters talent across 96 tribes, 44 institutions, and 19 states, with participants from Canada testing their skills as well. Blending technical challenges, professional networking, and cultural integration, FNL has become a powerful force for Indigenous representation in STEM.

Your college applications are submitted and decisions are coming in. Now it’s time to figure out how to pay for your college education. It’s no secret that college costs are high, but there are ways to reduce your bottom line. Here are some important steps to finding funds for college. 

Although I grew up in Houston, I consider Torreon, N.M., in the Eastern Agency of the Navajo Nation, home. I spent much of my childhood in that remote rural area, playing on —and learning from — the land. It’s why I want to become a principal investigator and start my own microbiology lab on the Navajo Reservation: I want to take care of the land. After a nontraditional academic journey, I’m now a graduate student at Harvard University studying bacterial genetics, and I finally feel like I know where I’m going.

Sometimes you have to go outside yourself to find the things closest to you. While I’ve always enjoyed science — Star Trek is the best! — it’s been more of a growing awareness for me. I’m super curious about the intricate details of how biological systems work, and how this can be leveraged for good.