Native SOAR

Pima Community College Native American Student Association

Last week, we had the opportunity to support PCC NASA’s first social of the semester! Big thank you to Dr. Christie Meninick, NASA advisor, and the Pima NASA students for inviting us to join your gathering. We can’t wait to host you on our campus next semester!

“Hello! My name is Alexia Teixeira, I am a fourth year landscape architecture student and the vice president of the Indigenous Society of Architecture, Planning, and Design. Growing up I was immersed in my Cape Verdean and Taíno culture, this has shaped my love for nature, historic preservation, and communtiy. Outside of my academics I read, play guitar, and play video games.”

Alexia Teixeira
Fall 2026 Native SOAR Mentor

SUNNYSIDE HS + NAEP + THINK TANK + NATIVE SOAR

We were thrilled to welcome visiting high school seniors from Sunnyside High School to campus for Native SOAR’s first campus visit of the fall semester!

In collaboration with our friends at Sunnyside Unified’s Native American Education Program and the UA’s Think Tank, we kicked off the day with a tour of the Student Success District, followed by an AMAZING presentation from Think Tank Director Taranika Sanders.

After breakfast, our visiting scholars joined our class, led by Native SOAR mentors Daelyn, Ohkuwa, Lalaina, Antonio, and Jonah. We hope our guests left campus inspired to imagine themselves pursuing their goals after high school—and encouraged by the incredible depth of support available to them on our campus! 🎓❤️

Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so memorable. We can’t wait to welcome our future Wildcats back! 🐻⬇️

“My name is Nehemiah Simpson, and I am a second-year student majoring in Care, Health and Society with a minor in Wellness and Health Promotion Practice. I am Muscogee (Creek) and Navajo, and I am from Window Rock, Arizona. Outside of school, I enjoy playing baseball and basketball. I’m interested in health and wellness and look forward to being involved with Native SOAR!”

Nehemiah Simpson
Fall 2026 Native SOAR Mentor

In preparation for our first student led campus visit (for Sunnyside HS), Native SOAR mentors created visual representations of their educational journeys. Reflecting on the past, present and future, they crafted their projects with the goal of sharing their journeys with our visiting high school mentees.

We also had the honor of hosting our Indigenous Teacher Education Program fam, Dana Wilcox, who also shared her educational journey with our students. Thank you Dana for supporting our community with your time, wisdom and joy!

“Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é! My name is Daelyn Nez, and I am Diné from Indian Wells, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at the University of Arizona. This year, I have been researching traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic anxiety. This research has deepened my interests in animal health, research, and strengthening Indigenous representation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). My goals are to attend veterinary school and pursue a career as a large animal veterinarian, with hopes of bringing my education and experiences back to my community!

Fun fact: I also currently serve as the Vice President of the UA AISES chapter and am the former 42nd Miss Native American University of Arizona.”

Daelyn Nez
Fall 2026 Native SOAR Mentor

Each year, Education Forward Arizona hosts a Native American Scholarship Program Meet & Greet at the University of Arizona. This year, Native SOAR was honored to join in welcoming their incoming scholars and helping connect students with one another, Native resources, and community on campus.

✨ This gathering was especially meaningful because it was coordinated by one of our former Native SOAR mentors and UA alum, Alexis Salter! Alexis serves as an Education Forward Success Adviser for Post-Secondary Success Programs, and we were so excited to see her continuing to support the goals and success of Native UA scholars—including former and current Native SOAR students! Yay Mazey and Shianne! ✨

We always proud to see our Native SOAR family continue to grow, lead, and support one others in higher education and beyond! 🎓🌟

“Hello, my name is Lalaina Becenti. I am a freshman at U of A, majoring in Animal Sciences with a minor in Science and Pre-Professional Emphasis. I am Navajo and White Mountain Apache, I am the Water Edge People born for the Mountain Fruit people, my maternal grandfather’s clan is the Many Goats, and my paternal grandfather’s clan is the Towering House people. I represent the communities of Pinon, AZ and Naschitti, NM. My interest include dancing at pow-wow’s and continuing my education so I can give back to my community with hopes of becoming an on-call, mobile veterinarian.”

Lalaina Becenti
Fall 2026 Native SOAR Mentor

In-person LIVESTREAM - ACPA/ASHE Presidential Symposium

EPSP and Native SOAR have partnered up to bring you a very special event on Thursday, from 9 am - 1 pm PST.

The Presidents and Leadership from ASHE and ACPA will come together on to discuss how to account for and move through this difficult moment. The conversation will feature several wonderful speakers, including HED’s very own April N. Horne, and is sure to be equally grounding and inspiring!

If you are interested in joining the watch party in COE 102 or simply want to learn more about the event, please RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9jXUXfgWpZcbvMpkOre-SNiNwclWoOHZfeRBFKQ-fQR4Dsg/viewform

“Lios enchiak! Abigail Hernandez ne waate! Hello, my name is Abigail Hernandez, and I am a proud member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and a freshman at the University of Arizona. I am majoring in Emergency Medical Services with a minor in Environmental and Occupational Health. I am a member of the W.A. Franke Honors College and a Stamps Scholar, I am passionate about emergency medicine and hope to pursue a career as a NASA flight surgeon or a pediatric emergency medicine physician. I am also currently involved in research focused on firefighter cancer and occupational health. Outside of academics, I enjoy exploring the outdoors, climbing, and getting involved in organizations that build community and support others on campus. I love to do community work and am a member of Regenerción. I am excited to serve as a Native SOAR mentor this fall, connect with fellow Native students, and learn from the diverse experiences and communities that make Native SOAR so special.”

Abby Hernandez
Fall 2026 Native SOAR Mentor