Morongo Band awards $40,000 in scholarships to Native college students

Tuesday, October 16, 2018  

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is once again helping Native students fulfill their educational dreams.

Deserea Langley (Susanville Indian Rancheria), Donald Salcedo (Quechan Nation), Andres Ramos (Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians) and Shayleena Britton (Round Valley Indian Tribe) are the latest recipients of the Rodney T. Mathews Jr. Scholarship. They were each awarded $10,000 to continue their education.

“The Rodney T. Mathews Jr. Scholarship at Morongo was created to reverse the trends that have left Native Americans as the most underrepresented group in colleges and universities,” Chairman Robert Martin said. “We are happy to be supporting each of this year’s deserving recipients in attaining the education and skills they need to pursue their goals and improve their tribal communities.”

The scholarship was established in honor of the late Rodney T. Mathews. He was a Morongo citizen who earned his law degree and served as a judge for the tribe prior to his passing in 2004.

This year's recipients are following in his footsteps. Langley will be using her scholarship to pursue a doctorate in Native American Studies at the University of California, Davis, where she is compiling the first comprehensive history of the Susanville Indian Rancheria and the implementation of the Dawes Act in northern California

“I’m so thankful for tribal communities like Morongo supporting student success,” Langley said. “It is important to have educated Native Americans for the future of our culture, communities and tribal governments.”

Salcedo is working toward his bachelor's degree in American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He said the scholarship will help him continue social works efforts in tribal communities.

“I felt so lucky and blessed to have received this scholarship from Morongo, especially since I was having a hard time financially,” Salcedo said. “As a non-traditional and first-generation student, I didn’t know I had so much support to go to school. It felt like someone believed in me.”

Ramos is using his scholarship at Northern Arizona University, where he is pursuing a bachelor's in biochemistry. His goal is to become a pharmacist for his tribe.

“Thanks to the scholarship from Morongo, I’ll now be able to volunteer more of my time to Indian health clinics since I won’t have to spend as much time working to pay for school,” Andres said.

Britton is putting her funds to use at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she is bachelor's in art. She plans to use her art and media skills to preserve Native languages and help Native people share their stories.

“I am very thankful and so happy to have received this scholarship from Morongo,” Britton said. “San Francisco is such a different place from the small town I grew up in, but I love the city, my friends, and my classes.”

The Rodney T. Mathews Jr. Scholarship is in its 14th year. It is open to any enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe in California.

Since its inception, the Morongo Band has awarded $470,000 in scholarships to 49 Native students.