NAURA Centennial Scholarship Recipients

My name is Kyra Scott, I was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona. I am going into my Junior year at NAU and I am studying Interior Design with a minor in Business. I will be graduating in the spring of 2028 with my bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation I plan on either starting my own business where I would refurbish furniture and then use it for my work or I want to travel the world and learn how to adapt my interior design skills to each culture. This scholarship is helping me reach those goals by giving me the funding to be able to graduate college debt free and the ability to focus my time on my studies and volunteering at my local church. It has truly been a blessing to attend NAU and follow in the footsteps of my grandparents, parents, and brothers who also call NAU their alma mater.n

My name is Arlin Tso. I’m a Navajo, born in Chinle, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation. I am currently majoring in a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication, emphasis in Animation. I will be graduating in Spring of 2029. My goals are to become an independent animator on YouTube and in Hollywood, California to share my animation stories through the big theater screens around the world and create a new pop culture aesthetic in the future. I want to take advantage of new art to spread happiness and love to my audiences around the world, reaching different countries to see my creativity and stories. I am honored to get the Northern Arizona University Retirees Association (NAURA) scholarship to help me strive for my degree, reaching my career goals, and reaching the stars to be an Indigenous animator. This scholarship opens many doors of opportunities for me and the chances to prove to different committees, scholarships, and internships who see that I am deeply passionate to strive for success in my education and seek success in my career. The NAURA scholarship can make a great noble difference in my college years and in my career life. I do believe that this is how our career dreams come true.

My name is Aubrey Schrameck, and I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I am a Data Science major with minors in Mathematics and Statistics, graduating from NAU in May 2026. My academic and professional goals are rooted in a desire to use data as a tool for positive change. I am passionate about applying data-driven decision-making to address real-world challenges, and in my career, I aim to produce insights that help organizations and policymakers make informed, ethical, and impactful decisions that serve the greater good. This scholarship plays a critical role in supporting these aspirations as it will ease the financial burden of my education and allow me to fully engage in coursework, research, and internships that will prepare me to make a meaningful impact through data.

I was born and raised in Flagstaff, I plan to graduate in 2027 with an English degree. I hope to continue my education to the doctorate level. There I hope to conduct research and teach at a university level. I want to research the impacts of digital communication on language, rhetoric, and public discourse. This scholarship helps me by giving me time. Every $15.50 I receive through this scholarship saves me one hour, to devote to classes, homework, and writing. This equates to nearly 7 hours each week. This time will not be wasted as I strive to reach my goals.

My name is Daniel Lord and I grew up in Tucson, Arizona. Currently, I am pursuing my Nursing degree after initially building upon the strong foundation I established from receiving a degree in Biomedical Sciences from Northern Arizona University in 2021. I am on track to graduate Winter 2024. My immediate goal upon graduation is to pass the NCLEX exam and secure a position as either a pediatric or ICU nurse in Arizona. I am deeply committed to serving my community and believe that working in these specialized fields will allow me to make a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families. Receiving this scholarship will be instrumental as it will enable me to dedicate more time and resources to reaching my highest potential in my studies. I would be able to focus more intently on my education and clinical experiences, ensuring that I am well-prepared to provide the highest standard of care as a future nurse.

I am Christine and I live in Yuma, AZ. I am an Allied Health major, with a minor in Psychology.  I will graduate in the Spring of 2025. My goal is to continue my education and become a Physician Assistant and serve my community as a primary care provider. I have a deep love for Arizona and the diverse people that make up this great state and I am honored to serve my community in any way I am able. This funding is critical because I am continuing on to a graduate degree and school is unattainable for me without the aid of grants and scholarships. I am also a wife and a mom and this funding means I do not have to work unrealistic hours while trying to pay for my education. This opportunity is a true blessing and I appreciate it.

My name is Jessica Marshall and I am from Louisville, Colorado. I am double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Chemistry with a Psychology minor and will be graduating from the Honors College at Northern Arizona University in the spring of 2024. Upon graduation, I plan to obtain an M.D./Ph.D in Neurology and aspire to practice medicine and conduct research on host-pathogen interactions in the central nervous system with the goal of developing preventative and treatment options for those affected by neurodegenerative diseases caused by pathogens. This scholarship is invaluable and will help provide me with the opportunity to reach my potential. This financial support allows me to pursue research and internship opportunities, develop my leadership abilities, give back to my community, and focus my energy on my studies.

My name is Jeshua Scott, and I am born and raised in Flagstaff Arizona. I am currently in my junior year of college studying for a bachelor’s in secondary education physics, with a minor in mechanical engineering. My love for both teaching and engineering has been heavily influenced by my father and grandfather who both worked and graduated from NAU. My late grandfather was a professor of electrical engineering and shared his technical thinking through board games and has challenged me throughout my early life to think critically and enjoy life to its fullest. My father taught at the Program for Intensive English and showed me the impact that teaching can truly have on people of all ages, cultures, and languages. I hope to teach at Coconino Highschool, the local high school that I graduated from, and after gaining a few years of experience, I want to travel the world teaching science at military base schools or schools for international children. For part of my childhood, I grew up overseas, so I would love to continue that experience as an educator. The generous scholarship money from the NAU Retirees Association has been an incredible blessing. As teaching does not pay very well, I have had quite a few concerns regarding furthering my education as a professional teacher. The awarded amount has allowed me to plan on continuing into a master’s program to better serve the students I will one day teach, and has taken a reasonable mental strain off of my shoulders. I will be forever grateful for the incredible generosity I have been shown.