AUBURN, CA – Chapa-De Indian Health is proud to award four scholarships this year as part of the April Moore Memorial Scholarship program to Amanda Barnes, Leah Ellis, Noelia Davila, and Zachary Hatten. Each recipient will receive $1,000.00 for the 2022-2023 school year.
April Moore served 26 years as a Board Member and Chair of Chapa-De Indian Health before passing away in 2015. She spent her life working to advance the American Indian Community and helped make Chapa-De a state-of-the-art native directed regional managed health care system that now serves over 20,000 patients. April Moore’s memory lives on through Chapa-De’s April Moore Memorial Scholarship Program which awards $1,000.00 to outstanding American Indian students who are attending or planning to attend college or a technical, trade, or vocational school.
“April Moore’s commitment to enriching the lives of Native American youth was well-known, so it is a privilege to support these very worthy students as they work to achieve their dreams,” said Brenda Adams, Chair of Chapa-De Indian Health.
Amanda Barnes attends California State University, Chico and is earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication Design. A descendant of the Rumsen Ohlone/Costanoan Native American tribe, she plans to use her education and creativity to communicate to the world the uniqueness of her tribe and to give exposure to her native heritage. She believes her talents are brought forth from her ancestors and she dedicates her work to those who have come before her.
Leah Ellis is studying Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She ultimately hopes to attend graduate school to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and to return her hometown of Grass Valley. Her goal is to help people live a happier and healthier life – she especially hopes to work with minorities and people who struggle with addiction and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Noelia Davis attends Santa Rosa Junior College and is in the Nursing program. Growing up on an Indian reservation, she saw firsthand the desperate need for health care resources and indigenous health care workers. Her goal is to become a Registered Nurse and to travel to Indian Health Clinics around the U.S. to help Native people combat issues like diabetes and heart diseases.
Zachary Hatten attends Sierra College and is also pursuing Nursing. Following in his grandmother’s footsteps, he hopes to positively contribute to people’s health journeys by becoming a Registered Nurse. Knowing that minorities often face healthcare disparities, he plans on using his career to save lives in the American Indian community.
“Chapa-De Indian Health is very proud to recognize and support these bright individuals of American Indian/Alaskan Native heritage on their educational journeys,” said Lisa Davies, CEO of Chapa-De Indian Health. “They have overcome various obstacles, and we are grateful for their eagerness to give back to the Native American community upon reaching their career goals.”
For more information about Chapa-De Indian Health, please visit https://chapa-de.org/.