Celebrating Our 2025 Bay Area Scholarship Recipients
We are excited to announce this year’s Bay Area Scholarship recipients: Jaden Harris and Aiyanna Padilla. Both students exemplify academic excellence, cultural pride, and dedication to their futures. Each has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship through the partnership between the Lindy Waters III Foundation and the Native American Bear Foundation.
Their journeys reflect the strength and promise of Native youth in the Bay Area, and we are honored to support them as they take the next step in their educational paths.
Jaden Harris is dedicated to using education as a way to build resilience, purpose, and positive change. Inspired by his own life experiences, he plans to study philosophy and law with the goal of helping others and making a meaningful impact. Jaden hopes to be remembered not only for his achievements but also for his kindness and respect toward others.
Aiyanna Padilla discovered her passion for radiologic sciences during her senior year of high school, where her love of sports and personal experience with injury inspired her career path. She aspires to help patients—especially athletes—better understand and recover from their injuries, combining her empathy with her dedication to health and wellness.
We are proud to partner with the Native American Bear Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering and encouraging Native youth to pursue their dreams through higher education. Together, we are working to expand opportunities, uplift communities, and support the next generation of leaders.