MHA Nation - Class of 2026
Graduation
Announcements
Graduation Announcements
Celebrating the achievements and future success of our MHA Nation graduates.
Browse Graduates
Use the filters below to view featured graduates, high school graduates by community/school, or college and university graduates.
Nahtaleah Twyla Aulaumea
White Plum Blossom Woman
New Town High School
Plans to attend UTTC to play basketball and acquire an associate degree in Criminal Justice, then transfer to a four-year college to continue basketball and earn a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Future goal: Lawyer.
Aiyanna DesJarlait-Mendez
Flying Sky (Arikara and Ojibwe)
Elgin High School
Aiyanna has received a full scholarship to the Pre-Med/Forensic Pathology program at Benedictine University.
Brylee Bearstail
Mandan High School
Brylee will be attending Bismarck State College for basketball.
Rylee Bearstail
Garishda waabaahish
Mandan High School
Rylee will be attending Bismarck State College for basketball and academics.
Koya Sorae Bearstail
White Shield High School
Find my way through the world, hopefully pursuing art as it’s one of my favorite things to do. You can do anything if you’re creative enough.
Christopher Dylan Gonzales
Alvin High School
Troy Xavier Boone
Alvin High School
D’veron J. Smith
Dreams It To Be
Glenburn Public School
Plans to study Tribal Law while serving in the Army National Guard.
Takiyah Bad Hawk
New Town High School
High Honors
Takiyah will be continuing her education and basketball career at Lake Region State College.
Damian Funmaker
Blackhawk Technical College
Associate of Science
Damian will be moving on to obtain his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from The University of Kansas #ROCKCHALK
Kenley Christa Hamley
Turtle Mountain Community High School
National Honor Society, Student Council Representative, Wrestling Team Captain, Fast Pitch Softball, Volleyball, North Dakota Girls Wrestling National Team (2023–2026), State & Regional Wrestling Placer, Honor Student, and 2026 Homecoming Queen.
Kenley will be attending Bismarck State College for Elementary Education and has signed a Letter of Intent to wrestle for the Mystics Women's Wrestling Team.
Catori Bindert
Huron High School
Catori will be serving in the United States Army.
Nikki S. Hoeger
Holy Sweetgrass Woman
Sisseton High School
Plans to serve our country in the United States Army.
Hadrian DuChien Plainfeather
Sings Them In
Skyview High School
Hadrian will be attending North Dakota State University majoring in mechanical engineering.
Cyra LeAnn Plainfeather
Sits With The Elders
Montana State University Billings
Associate of Science
Emerging Student Leader of the Year 2025
Accepted into North Dakota State University’s Nursing Program and will pursue a Doctorate of Nursing.
Albert Mason Jr
University of Wyoming
Masters in Wildlife Biology
Albert will be working with Wind River Buffalo Program as the Science Director.
Makoti Robert Weber
Crookston Central High School
Apprenticeship in Carpentry with J Squared Construction.
Dani Bateman
Corn Woman
New Town High School
Dani is planning to attend NHSC for nursing and child development.
Hailee Joe Rabbithead
Wahpeton High School
Associate degree in Mental Health through Minot State University, General Education through NDSCS, then Master’s degree in Nursing.
Keya Condon
Mandan High School
National Honor Society
Keya will be attending Bismarck State College for a year, then continuing toward medical school for dermatology.
Clarence “CJ” Freeman
Sitting Eagle
New Town High School
CJ plans on continuing his education at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, where he also signed to continue his basketball and running career.
Elyssa Red Bear
New Town High School
High Honors
After graduation, Elyssa plans to attend Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College to study social work while continuing her basketball career with STORM. After finishing general studies, she plans to transfer to the University of South Dakota to earn a master’s in social work. Her goal is to become a youth victim service advocate and eventually open a nonprofit to help youth in her community.
Bryan Davis Young Bird
New Town High School
Bryan plans on continuing his education at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College.
Keyin Steeve
Nodaway Valley High School
Keyin plans on attending Buena Vista University for a Computer Science degree and wrestling.
Nacota Ogden
Minnesota Valley Area Learning Center
Carpenter/HVAC technician.
Ryleigh Fox-Deane
Mandaree High School
Ryleigh will attend NHSC and continue on to get her Nursing degree.
Nizhoni Keeswood
New Town High School
High Honors
Nizhoni has been accepted to Augsburg University with a full scholarship in the Twin Cities.
Madden Layne Everett
White Shield High School
Valedictorian
Madden will attend BSC to pursue Instrumentation and Control Technology and make music.
Noah Rael
Questa High School
Noah will get his CDL and Welding degree.
Randeigh Clairee Annelle Youngbear
Ishtamadzushudazucwewadush (Choke Cherry Eyes)
Skyview High School
Plans to attend MSUB.
Lana Sotoy
Asher College
Associates Degree in Office Accounting
National Technical Honor Society
Lana’s future plans are to continue to grow within her career field.
Kota Stiffarm
Mandaree High School
High Honors
Kota will be attending college and studying addiction studies/psychology in the fall.
Kenneth John Thomas Evenson
Otter boy
Parshall High School
Science
Continue on with my education and do some constructive work.
Jaid Jerome Alkire
Icuuwashga haagu igaash (Horse Looking Back)
Mandan High School
Jaid is planning to Major in Educational Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango Colorado.
Darnell “Little” Baker
Sun Child
New Town High School
Little will be continue his academic journey and play basketball at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College.
Jordan Scott Griggs
Ahbaaxi idagish (Lone Cloud)
Tift County High School
Academic Honors for dual enrollment
Jordan will attend Georgia State University this fall in Atlanta for his bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law.
Anndria Gachupiny
University of Kansas
BS - Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Anndria’s future plans are to work in Healthcare.
Sophie Anne Yellow Wolf
Mandaree High School
Sophie plans to further her education at one of local Tribal Colleges.
Maegan D. Chase
Minot State University
Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies
Magna Cum Laude
Maegan plans to work in our MHA community providing addiction counseling.
James Affolter
Hazen High School
James plans to attend University of North Dakota to major in marketing with a minor in sports business.
Nathan H. Bailey
La Conner High School
Nathan plans to attend Northwest Career & Technical Academy to study Money and Business.
Rose Annie Foote
Arii Udcii Wea Arish (Strong Road Women)
United Tribes Technical College
Associates in Social Work
Career GPA 3.67, honor cord received.
Rose plans to pursue my Bachelor’s degree at BSC.
Larita Flores Smith
White Shield High School
HONORS
Job corps, stay kids concerts, and mall of America.
Kanyon Esquibel
White Shield High School
Ashton Riley
New Town High School
Little will be continue his academic journey and play basketball at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College.
Noah Zackary Packineau
Oregon State University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Currently working as a Mental Health Technician in Scottsdale, Arizona. I plan to attend Grand Canyon University in the Fall to obtain my Masters in Behavioral Health Counseling and eventually obtain my Doctorate to become a Clinical Psychologist.
Lesley Irwin
Peppermint Grows
New Town High School
HONORS
Joined National Guard, college when done with training.
Teagun Orville White Eagle
Shunska Wichachpi Wapaha
New Town High School
Make lots of money for me and my familia.
Kenley Christa Hamley
Turtle Mountain Community High School
Kenley plans to attend Bismarck State College.
Casina L Brewer
Pte San Win
Oglala Lakota College
BS in Business Administration emphasizing in Managment
Made the Oglala Lakota College President’s List every semester since 2021
I just closed out my small service-based business as a natural hair braider and accepted my first administrative position that begins my career in the business industry. The future from here is blissfully unknown but divinely led for greater self-growth and for the good of all!
Teagan Lyn Paulson
North Dakota State University
BS Computer Engineering
Summa Cum Laude
I plan to work as an embedded systems engineer in the Fargo/Moorhead area after my graduation. Once I am financially settled I'm planning on giving back all the support I have received to another student in need.
Submit a Graduation Announcement
Submit your graduate’s information and photo to be highlighted on the MHA Nation Graduation Announcement page!
Tribal Education Grants & Scholarships
Explore educational funding opportunities, scholarships, grants, and student support programs available through MHA Nation. Resources are available for high school graduates, college students, vocational programs, and continuing education.