The following individuals are the 2010 INFR Scholarship Recipients. The Scholarships were sponsored by Falmouth Institute,
Dominica Valencia and Manuel Pagalin. We thank the donors to the scholarship program as the INFR continues to endorse the
importance of higher education to our members.
Shelby Merchant was born and raised on the Kikino Metis Settlement. She wishes to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. “I
find myself always wanting to be involved with animals and certain situations they may get themselves into in regards to injury. I
feel that with veterinary medicine I will be able to repay the animal that has made everything possible to me”. Shelby would like to
establish her own clinic in her home town.
Mykayla Tatsey is currently enrolled at the University of Montana Western, and working towards a BS in Business Administration
with a minor in Small Business Management. She is currently a senior at Western and is pleased to say that she has
accomplished many goals that she has set for herself. Her future plans include moving back to the Blackfeet Reservation and
starting a small business that will include agricultural and farming necessities. She plans on creating many jobs for her peers
and being a successful entrepreneur. Mykayla plans on returning to the Blackfeet Reservation to be a positive role model for young
children. She hopes to inspire and will encourage the Blackfeet youth to go to college.
Tiffany Rose Sinclair attended Montana State University Billings her freshman year of college and transferred to the Salish
Kootenai College last fall. This spring she will graduate with her associate’s degree in business management. Her plans
include enrolling in a four year educational institution to attain a bachelors and masters degree in business. Someday she hopes
to own and operate her own business as well as serve as an educational asset for the Blackfeet people. Tiffany considers, by
owning and operating a business she can create more job opportunities for others, and still find time to coach high school girls’
basketball.
Malia VandenBos currently attends Montana State University Northern in Havre, Montana to obtain a nursing degree. Within the
profession of nursing, many opportunities are available to her. She wants to help and care for people in need of medical
assistance. Malia is very passionate about nursing and rodeo, and hopes to continue to do both.
Robert Wagner attended the College of Technology in Butte, Montana where he received a certificate as a lineman. Upon his
completion of certification, he knew he wanted to continue his education, so he enrolled at the Blackfeet Community College.
There he took up building trades. He is currently attending school at MSU-Billings in Billings Montana to work on his BA in
Electrical Engineering. Since he has great passion for youth and love for rodeo, his dream is to go back to the Blackfeet
Reservation and work with the youth.
William Turner is pursuing a degree in political science at the University of Calgary. He soon realized the majority of the subject
matter he was learning was of a legal nature. His Aboriginal identity has spurred his interest in law and politics in areas that affect
Aboriginal people, and he has naturally gravitated toward areas surrounding industrial activity. He is proud of his Native
background and believes his abilities, as well as his education, are indebted to his ancestry. Where possible, he will utilize his
education to benefit his family and larger Aboriginal population of Canada by representing their voice and culture in modern ways.
Upon succeeding in law school and obtaining a Bachelor of Law, he hopes to represent Northerners facing the upcoming
development of the Mackenzie Gas Project.
Emily Bell-Kallenberger was raised on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and is currently attending college at Montana State
University – Northern in Havre, MT working towards a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She will begin her student-
teaching internship this month and achieve her Bachelors degree in May of 2011. One of her goals is to instill a passion for
learning within student and provide an environment that is encouraging and positive. She believes that coming to the right answer
is a process, and the process should be encouraged and guided responsibly by her and in a classroom social environment that
is also supported by their peers. She also believes this process should include and be supported by parents, faculty, and
community.
Samantha Jo Bird is currently a student at Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Arizona where she is a member of the CAC Rodeo
Team. She is majoring in Fine Arts and hopes to utilize her degree professionally within all areas of art. Sammy grew up on the
Bird Family Ranch in Cut Bank, Montana. She started riding horses at an early age and continues to love and respect all horses
and their abilities that they share with her. She gives credit to her parents for the support they give to her and her sister Brittany.
Sammy knows that one day she will return to the Blackfeet Reservation and help with the youth in any way that she can.
Vince Tsosie is from Shiprock, New Mexico and currently in his fifth semester of college. He has been active with the college
rodeo team and focused on his academics. He is pursuing a degree in Agronomy. His long term goals involve acquiring a Master’
s degree from Utah State University while maintaining his commitment to riding bucking horses professionally. He plans to return
to his hometown and assist and encourage the youth to excel and surpass what he has accomplished.
Dominica Valencia and Manuel Pagalin. We thank the donors to the scholarship program as the INFR continues to endorse the
importance of higher education to our members.
Shelby Merchant was born and raised on the Kikino Metis Settlement. She wishes to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. “I
find myself always wanting to be involved with animals and certain situations they may get themselves into in regards to injury. I
feel that with veterinary medicine I will be able to repay the animal that has made everything possible to me”. Shelby would like to
establish her own clinic in her home town.
Mykayla Tatsey is currently enrolled at the University of Montana Western, and working towards a BS in Business Administration
with a minor in Small Business Management. She is currently a senior at Western and is pleased to say that she has
accomplished many goals that she has set for herself. Her future plans include moving back to the Blackfeet Reservation and
starting a small business that will include agricultural and farming necessities. She plans on creating many jobs for her peers
and being a successful entrepreneur. Mykayla plans on returning to the Blackfeet Reservation to be a positive role model for young
children. She hopes to inspire and will encourage the Blackfeet youth to go to college.
Tiffany Rose Sinclair attended Montana State University Billings her freshman year of college and transferred to the Salish
Kootenai College last fall. This spring she will graduate with her associate’s degree in business management. Her plans
include enrolling in a four year educational institution to attain a bachelors and masters degree in business. Someday she hopes
to own and operate her own business as well as serve as an educational asset for the Blackfeet people. Tiffany considers, by
owning and operating a business she can create more job opportunities for others, and still find time to coach high school girls’
basketball.
Malia VandenBos currently attends Montana State University Northern in Havre, Montana to obtain a nursing degree. Within the
profession of nursing, many opportunities are available to her. She wants to help and care for people in need of medical
assistance. Malia is very passionate about nursing and rodeo, and hopes to continue to do both.
Robert Wagner attended the College of Technology in Butte, Montana where he received a certificate as a lineman. Upon his
completion of certification, he knew he wanted to continue his education, so he enrolled at the Blackfeet Community College.
There he took up building trades. He is currently attending school at MSU-Billings in Billings Montana to work on his BA in
Electrical Engineering. Since he has great passion for youth and love for rodeo, his dream is to go back to the Blackfeet
Reservation and work with the youth.
William Turner is pursuing a degree in political science at the University of Calgary. He soon realized the majority of the subject
matter he was learning was of a legal nature. His Aboriginal identity has spurred his interest in law and politics in areas that affect
Aboriginal people, and he has naturally gravitated toward areas surrounding industrial activity. He is proud of his Native
background and believes his abilities, as well as his education, are indebted to his ancestry. Where possible, he will utilize his
education to benefit his family and larger Aboriginal population of Canada by representing their voice and culture in modern ways.
Upon succeeding in law school and obtaining a Bachelor of Law, he hopes to represent Northerners facing the upcoming
development of the Mackenzie Gas Project.
Emily Bell-Kallenberger was raised on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and is currently attending college at Montana State
University – Northern in Havre, MT working towards a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She will begin her student-
teaching internship this month and achieve her Bachelors degree in May of 2011. One of her goals is to instill a passion for
learning within student and provide an environment that is encouraging and positive. She believes that coming to the right answer
is a process, and the process should be encouraged and guided responsibly by her and in a classroom social environment that
is also supported by their peers. She also believes this process should include and be supported by parents, faculty, and
community.
Samantha Jo Bird is currently a student at Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Arizona where she is a member of the CAC Rodeo
Team. She is majoring in Fine Arts and hopes to utilize her degree professionally within all areas of art. Sammy grew up on the
Bird Family Ranch in Cut Bank, Montana. She started riding horses at an early age and continues to love and respect all horses
and their abilities that they share with her. She gives credit to her parents for the support they give to her and her sister Brittany.
Sammy knows that one day she will return to the Blackfeet Reservation and help with the youth in any way that she can.
Vince Tsosie is from Shiprock, New Mexico and currently in his fifth semester of college. He has been active with the college
rodeo team and focused on his academics. He is pursuing a degree in Agronomy. His long term goals involve acquiring a Master’
s degree from Utah State University while maintaining his commitment to riding bucking horses professionally. He plans to return
to his hometown and assist and encourage the youth to excel and surpass what he has accomplished.
2010 INFR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
| INFR Headquarters P.O. Box 508 Browning, MT 59417 Phone: 406-338-7684 Fax: 406-338-3754 |
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Click on the images below to visit each Sponsors' page
