Destiny Lazore '26 of Katsitsatekanoniahkwa earns the esteemed Udall Scholarship
Hailing from the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Destiny Lazore, a multidisciplinary student with a passion for communication, rhetorics, politics, and Native American studies, is set to reap the fruits of her labors as a 2025 Udall Scholar in the sphere of Tribal Public Policy.
This prestigious scholarship, bestowed by the Udall Foundation, recognizes college sophomores and juniors demonstrating exceptional leadership, public service, and dedication to issues that intertwine with Native American nations or the environment. Lazore is among 55 scholars chosen this year across the nation.
Destiny's ambitious dream is to function as a curriculum and policy consultant for Indigenous-centric educational institutions. As she puts it, "I envision creating educational standards that foster student success while preserving the essence of Native traditions, history, and languages." After her graduation, she plans to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership at Hawaii Pacific University and then return to her community to spearhead Kanien'kėha (Mohawk) language immersion programs for students spanning all age groups. She is adamant about integrating cultural practices such as ceremonies, storytelling, traditional ecological knowledge, and bushcraft into everyday learning.
"The louder the voices of elders and community leaders in shaping curriculum and educational policies, the better aligned education will be with Haudenosaunee values," Destiny asserts. Her vision encompasses incorporating the natural world and hands-on, project-based Haudenosaunee learning approaches to foster high standards of literacy, critical thinking, and quantitative skills, thereby empowering Native students for success. In her words, "Knowledge is a potent form of resistance and self-determination."
As a first-generation college student who traversed the rugged landscape of underfunded and under-resourced schools, Destiny often found herself charting her own path. She recalls spending countless hours in libraries, reading books and looking up words in dictionaries, and pushing herself harder when confronted with less-than-supportive teachers. When she discovered Syracuse University, she felt an immediate connection and was ecstatic when she was accepted. Throughout her first semester, she plunged herself into academic and campus life with zeal.
Destiny has capitalized on her Syracuse experience by seizing numerous research and outreach opportunities. She collaborated with Chie Sakakibara, an associate professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School, on her National Science Foundation-funded grant, Indigenous Northern Landscapes, Visual Repatriation, and Collaborative Knowledge Exchange. Together, they immersed themselves in Indigenous communities in Japan, delving into environmental justice issues and fostering transnational Indigenous alliance-building.
In 2022, as a fledgling first-year student, Destiny initiated a project to compile a comprehensive database of 40 resources for the University's Bird Library, focusing on the works of Indigenous authors and topics such as residential schools, decolonization methods, oral traditions, and Native American literature. Her inspiration stemmed from the belief that Indigenous history transcends the Euro-centric narrative often prevalent. "I made sure to incorporate authors affiliated with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and other Native American tribes to celebrate Native scholars and community members reclaiming sovereignty over their narratives," she explains.
Destiny has been actively involved with Indigenous Students at Syracuse, serving as the director of Indigenous Affairs for the Student Association. She has also extended her reach beyond campus borders. During the summer of 2024, she spearheaded a series of workshops at Tewatohnhi'saktha in Kahnawà:ke, aimed at empowering Indigenous students through education, culture, and financial literacy.
Jolynn Parker, director of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA), extols Destiny's robust academic achievements, substantial research experiences, dedication to campus and public service, and her crystal-clear focus on a future career dedicated to serving Native American communities. Parker commends Destiny's close collaboration with CFSA during the application process and her successful endorsement as a Udall candidate.
In the fall 2025 semester, Destiny plans to embark on a study abroad journey in London, where she hopes to delve into research on Indigenous communities, visit libraries, museums, and archives.
Casting her gaze towards the future, Destiny envisions herself working in her community, serving as a mentor, advocate, and counselor for Native students on the college application process. "I have thrived due to the unwavering support from my professors, academic advisors, and particularly the Native Student Program," Destiny acknowledges, expressing her desire for other Indigenous students to feel the same empowerment.
A Brief Note on the Udall Foundation
Established in 1992 by Congress, the Udall Foundation disburses scholarships, fellowships, and internships in the realms of the environment and Native Americans and Alaska Natives in matters concerning health care and tribal public policy. It also provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy for policy research and outreach on environmental issues and related themes, as well as the Native Nations Institute for research, education, and outreach on Native American and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues. In addition, it offers assessment, mediation, training, and other related services through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.
The Udall scholarship honors the legacies of Morris Udall and Stewart Udall, whose careers significantly impacted Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. Universities may nominate up to eight students for the Udall Scholarship each year. The Udall selection process at Syracuse University is managed by the CFSA. Interested students should reach out to the CFSA in November, with applications due in mid-March.
- Destiny Lazore, a Udall Scholar for 2025, plans to further her education with a master’s degree in educational leadership at Hawaii Pacific University, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and career development in education-and-self-development, with a focus on personal-growth and skills-training for Native American students.
- In her role as a curriculum and policy consultant for Indigenous-centric educational institutions, Destiny aims to create a learning environment that fosters student success while preserving the essence of Native traditions, history, and languages, prioritizing lifelong-learning and online-education that encourages critical thinking, quantitative skills, and the integration of cultural practices.
- inspired by her experiences and the ideals of the Udall Foundation, Destiny aspires to become a mentor, advocate, and counselor for Native students on the college application process, using her knowledge as a potent form of resistance and self-determination to empower future generations in the sphere of Tribal Public Policy and personal-growth.
