2025 NASA Graduation Celebration & Leadership Awards
Seniors, Graduate School and Professional School students, congratulations on your upcoming graduation. We want to celebrate this great achievement and invite you to participate in the NASA Graduation Celebration.
Native American Student Affairs Graduation Celebration will be held:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 3:00PM at the Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel
- 7350 S. Nogales Highway Tucson, Arizona 85756
If you graduated in December 2024, or are graduating in May or August 2025, you are invited to participate in the 2025 NASA Graduation Celebration & Awards Ceremony.
Register at the following link:
NASA Graduation CELEBRATION Registration RSVP
Tribal Leaders RSVP at the following link:
nasa GRADUATION CELEBRATION Tribal & EDUCATION LEADERS rsvp
2025 Student Leadership Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2024-2025 NASA Student Leadership Awards.
NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- A one (1) page minimum nomination letter submitted by the nominator based on the criteria the award
- Nominees must be a registered student at the University of Arizona and be considered "full time"
Students will be recognized at the NASA Graduation Celebration on:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 starting at 3PM
Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel -
7350 S. Nogales Highway Tucson, Arizona 85756
Nomination forms must be emailed or dropped off to NASA by Friday, April 11, 2025 by 5:00PM
2024-2025 Student Leadership Awards
NASA recognizes five different categories for our leadership awards:
Outstanding First-Year Award -
Awarded to a first year student who has not earned more than 29 units and has demonstrated significant achievement as well as contributed to the establishment of the Native American community at the UA.
Outstanding Undergraduate Award -
Awarded to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated significant achievement as well as contributed to the establishment of the Native American community at the UA.
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, also known as the “Bahti Award” -
Awarded to a senior student who has earned no less than 90 units and has demonstrated significant achievement as well as contributed to the establishment of the Native American community at the UA.
Outstanding Graduate Academic Award -
Awarded to a student who currently has an undergraduate degree and is currently enrolled into a graduate or professional program at the UA and has demonstrated significant achievement as well as contributed to the establishment of the Native American community at the UA.
Outstanding Graduate Service Award -
Awarded to a student who currently has an undergraduate degree and is enrolled into a graduate or professional program at the UA and has contributed a significant amount of service to the university, Tucson or their Tribal community
2024 Student Leadership Award Recipients
We would like to recognize the following students that were selected for the 2024 NASA Student Leadership Awards. These students have demonstrated exceptional academics and contributed to the campus community, Native American community, and overall, to the University of Arizona. Thank you for all the great work you have done to support Native American students at the University of Arizona and the commitment to your academic success.
Outstanding First-Year Award - Jalen Harvey, Diné / Pueblo of Acoma / Hopi
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Desbah White, Diné
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, also known as the “Bahti Award” - Nadira Mitchell, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Academic Award - Leo Bia, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Belen Sanchez, Tohono O'odham
2023 Student Leadership Award Recipients
We would like to recognize the following students that were selected for the 2023 NASA Student Leadership Awards. These students have demonstrated exceptional academics and contributed to the campus community, Native American community, and overall, to the University of Arizona. Thank you for all the great work you have done to support Native American students at the University of Arizona and the commitment to your academic success.
Outstanding First-Year Award - Kristen Goldtooth, Diné
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Starlivia Kaska, Havasupai
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, also known as the “Bahti Award” - Michael Becenti, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Academic Award - Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan, Tohono O'odham
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Christian Jimmie, Diné
2022 Student Leadership Award Recipients
We would like to recognize the following students that were selected for the 2022 NASA Student Leadership Awards. These students have demonstrated exceptional academics and contributed to the campus community, Native American community, and overall, to the University of Arizona. Thank you for all the great work you have done to support Native American students at the University of Arizona and the commitment to your academic success.
Outstanding First-Year Award - Winona Littleowl, Lakhota / Tohono O'odham
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Joshua Henry, White Mountain Apache / Diné
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Dominic Rodriguez, Pascua Yaqui
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, also known as the “Bahti Award” - Brendan Walker, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Academic & Service Award - Amber Morning Star Byars, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Outstanding Graduate Academic & Service Award - William O. Carson, Ohkay Owingeh
Outstanding Graduate Academic & Service Award - Dillon Dobson, Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Esperanza Campos, Cherokee
2021 Student Leadership Award Recipients
We would like to recognize the following students that were selected for the 2021 NASA Student Leadership Awards. These students have demonstrated exceptional academics and contributed to the campus community, Native American community, and overall, to the University of Arizona. Thank you for all the great work you have done to support Native American students at the University of Arizona and the commitment to your academic success.
Outstanding First-Year Award - Tommy Jodie, Diné
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Aaron Goldtooth, Diné
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Kharen Morgan, Diné
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, also known as the “Bahti Award” - Rita Valenzuela
Outstanding Graduate Academic Award - Adam Carl, Hopi / Diné
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Michelle P. Abeyta, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Amanda Cheromiah, Pueblo of Laguna
2020 Student Leadership Award Recipients
We would like to recognize the following students that were selected for the 2020 NASA Student Leadership Awards. These students have demonstrated exceptional academics and contributed to the campus community, Native American community, and overall, to the University of Arizona. Thank you for all the great work you have done to support Native American students at the University of Arizona and the commitment to your academic success.
Outstanding First-Year Award - Nadira Mitchell, Diné
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Brendan Walker, Diné
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, also known as the “Bahti Award” - Adam Carl, Hopi / Diné
Outstanding Graduate Academic Award - Shannon Zullo, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Academic Award - Ravina Thuraisingam, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Erik Peaches, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Jeremey Gneck, Pascua Yaqui
2019 Student Leadership Award Recipients
We would like to recognize the following students that were selected for the 2019 NASA Student Leadership Awards. These students have demonstrated exceptional academics and contributed to the campus community, Native American community, and overall, to the University of Arizona. Thank you for all the great work you have done to support Native American students at the University of Arizona and the commitment to your academic success.
Outstanding First-Year Award - Deshawna Sherlock, Diné
Outstanding Undergraduate Award - Lecario Benashley, White Mountain Apache
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, also known as the “Bahti Award” - Kaitlyn Benally, Diné
Outstanding Graduate Academic Award - Marliza Rivera, Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma
Outstanding Graduate Service Award - Felisia Tagaban, Diné / Tlingit / Filipina
These students were recognized for their leadership on campus and in the community. Their recognition was documented on an award plaque that was found in NASA. We want to honor and recognize them for their work in uplifting the Native student community.
Outstanding Native American Freshman Award - Jeremy Scott Fuson
Outstanding Native American Undergraduate Award - Melinda Gonzales-Backen
Outstanding Native American Graduating Senior Award - Stephanie Gauby
These students were recognized for their leadership on campus and in the community. Their recognition was documented on an award plaque that was found in NASA. We want to honor and recognize them for their work in uplifting the Native student community.
Outstanding Native American Freshman Award - Chelsea Chee
Outstanding Native American Undergraduate Award - Allen Lynch
Outstanding Native American Graduating Senior Award - Naomi Young
These students were recognized for their leadership on campus and in the community. Their recognition was documented on an award plaque that was found in NASA. We want to honor and recognize them for their work in uplifting the Native student community.
Outstanding Native American Freshman Award - Raysenia James
Outstanding Native American Undergraduate Award - Carlyle Begay
Outstanding Native American Graduating Senior Award - Pamela Bennett
These students were recognized for their leadership on campus and in the community. Their recognition was documented on an award plaque that was found in NASA. We want to honor and recognize them for their work in uplifting the Native student community.
Outstanding Native American Freshman Award - Joshua Lucio
Outstanding Native American Undergraduate Award - Racheal James
Outstanding Native American Graduating Senior Award - Charlene Robinson
These students were recognized for their leadership on campus and in the community. Their recognition was documented on an award plaque that was found in NASA. We want to honor and recognize them for their work in uplifting the Native student community.
Outstanding Native American Freshman Award - Jeffrey Cordova
Outstanding Native American Undergraduate Award - Travis Lawrence Lane
Outstanding Native American Graduating Senior Award - Mary Jo Boot
These students were recognized for their leadership on campus and in the community. Their recognition was documented on an award plaque that was found in NASA. We want to honor and recognize them for their work in uplifting the Native student community.