12 Students Honored with Scholarships at Annual Benefit Dinner

May 06, 2022

Christopher Lomahquahu

Gila River Indian News

After two years on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 26th Annual Josiah N. Moore Memorial Scholarship Benefit Dinner was held to recognize students’ academic success and Moore’s legacy. Twelve students in all received scholarships at the dinner, held at the Gila River Resorts & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass on April 23. 

Organized by the Arizona State University Native American Alumni Chapter, the benefit dinner helps fulfill Moore’s lifelong vision of providing and improving educational programs for Native Americans.

Moore, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation (TON), was raised in the village of Santa Rosa and Ajo. He paved the way for Indigenous peoples in education as an English professor at ASU, and after, returned to his homeland to serve as chairman of the TON. 

“We are so happy to have our scholarship recipients and alumni gather for this year’s program,” said Sahmie Joshevama, president of the ASU Native American Alumni Chapter. “Every year, the Native American Alumni chapter hosts [this] significant event to recognize the scholarship recipients as a way to reconnect to ASU, as ASU alumni.”

Joshevama said the COVID-19 pandemic halted plans for an in-person dinner the last two years. “There have been many hurdles and challenges that we had to overcome in order to be in this space where we are able to come together,” she said. 

“We appreciate all your support for all of the students,” said Jacob Moore, ASU assistant vice-president of tribal relations and son of the late Josiah Moore. He said many of the recipients are going to take on meaningful roles in their careers. 

“We have a lot of bright and talented young minds … attending all of our universities, especially at ASU; we are proud of our students,” Moore said. He added it is a pleasure to foster a new crop of students from tribal communities across the state of Arizona. 

Moore read a manuscript on his father’s life and notable achievements. According to Moore, when his dad took office, he introduced greater autonomy to the TON through infrastructure building. He also worked to improve the economic welfare of the TON and revise the constitution to reflect its culturally appropriate name: Tohono O’odham. 

“He spoke softly and bridged the gap between two worlds that distrusted each other,” Moore said. He noted that his father wanted better education, housing, jobs and economic prosperity for the TON while respecting the traditions of the Nation’s members. 

“Moore’s life was spent teaching others how to seek improvement, without destroying tradition… how to walk in two worlds with grace,” said the younger Moore. 

The dinner included a special performance by the Chi’chino Spirit Dance Group led by Kristopher Dosela of Gila River Indian Community District 6. The group includes members from each of the southern O’otham tribes as well as traditional female basket dancers. 

Dosela told the story of how the traditional dances came into creation, with some of them passed on from generation to generation based on history, noble acts and special meanings in O’otham culture. 

Annabell Bowen, the 2022 Native American Alumnus of the Year, also gave remarks. “I come from a long line of teachers, healers and medicine people, and those are my first ‘professors,’ as I would say,” she said. Bowen, a member of the Navajo Nation with ties to the Seneca Nation of New York, was raised on the western Navajo town of Tuba City. 

Throughout her educational and professional journey, she said, she is reminded to be respectful of her own history, because that was her strength as a college student away from home. “This is what I always share with my students: The first university is the community you come from and to be proud of that, because you carry [those] teachings with you when you come to campus,” said Bowen, who reflected on years of service to Indigenous students at ASU. 

All scholarship recipients are listed below.

2022 scholarship recipients:

Josiah N. Moore Memorial Scholarships

Savannah Nelson

Nicholet Deschine Parkhurst

McKenzie Allen-Charmley

Dahpne Leonard

Dollie Yazzie Outstanding Student Leadership Scholarship

Jai Bitsoih

On Q Financial, Inc., Sponsored Josiah N. Moore Scholarship

Royce Perez

ASU Native American Alumni Chapter Scholarship

Anyell Mata

Adrianna Martinez

Cheneil Jones

Kaela Henry, 

Keena Numkena

Michael LaValley