A graduate of Navajo Preparatory High School was recently named one of six recipients of the 2025 U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union scholarship, which awarded $30,000 for projects addressing community concerns, bullying prevention and business development.
Hailey Thomas, of Lukachukai, Arizona, will receive $5,000 to continue studying electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Thomas said she was at the university clinic getting a flu shot when a New Mexico area code appeared on her phone.
“I was like, oh it's a 505 number I need to answer because I don't get any like calls like in my area,” she said. “I answer, and he says, ‘Congratulations,’ and I started freaking out.”
Thomas said she applied after seeing an advertisement for the scholarship and felt the community concern category fit a high school project perfectly.
The Concern for Community Scholarship asks students to share how they are taking action to get involved in their communities and how they are giving back to those in need.
During her sophomore year, Thomas translated the Australian Broadcasting Corporation animated show “Bluey” into the Navajo language to emphasize the importance of language revitalization.
That story stood out to scholarship committee member Chelsea Watkins while reviewing applications.
“It was a very emotional submission, and it was very thoughtful and you can tell she spent a lot of time on it,” Watkins said. “I did watch the episode of Bluey that she submitted and I just found it to be so amazing that she would take the time to do that so her community can have access to that content.”
For Thomas, community brings the support she needs to succeed with teachings like “T'áá hó'ájitéégóó” that guide her academic journey.
Thomas said her journey in engineering began with wanting to change the future.
Looking to her community, Thomas has a passion for designing sustainable electrical systems that bring reliable power to Native communities while expanding global access to clean energy.
“I thought about the problems that my community faces, and it mainly tied to like electricity,” she said. “I grew up with my grandparents. My grandma didn't have electricity nor running water, so it was a struggle – there's electricity now, but it's not sustainable, nor is it reliable, there's still a lot of people out there that don't have electricity.”
The scholarship committee was able to see what was important to youths across the state in reviewing applications, Watkins said.
“It was really great for the committee to see what's important to our youths in New Mexico and what they want to do in their careers and in their lives,” she said. “It gave us a chance to see what's relevant and what's going on.”
According to Watkins, there were a number of submissions addressing the lack of health care in rural communities.
“They are passionate about it and they're leaving and going into college wanting to make a difference,” she said. “Some of them are wanting to go into the medical profession so they can go back to their hometowns and give back to their communities because they see that is completely missing where they live.”
The diversity of the U.S. Eagle scholarships offers students the opportunity to submit applications that fit their passions without limiting them, Watkins said.
Hannah Aranda, a biology and psychology major at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, was also a recipient and is pursuing a Ph.D. in preclinical neuroscience and molecular pharmacology with a dedication to build a business that re-homes laboratory animals.
Jesus Santiago Pacheco, a chemistry major at the University of New Mexico, was another recipient who hopes to attend medical school to serve the Diné people as a doctor.
According to Steve Schreiner, chief experience officer at U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union, the winners’ academic efforts will prepare them for careers that benefit society and align with U.S. Eagle’s philosophy of enhancing community well-being.
