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Jackson, Wyoming – Native American Jump Start (NAJS) is a Jackson, Wyoming based nonprofit whose mission is to provide opportunities for growth and success to high potential Native Americans through education and employment.

Native American Jump Start Grants have funded more than a thousand students and employees during its more than twenty-five-year history. Ambassadors were selected based on their involvement within their community as they pursue their educational journey.  Participants will support Native American Jump Start by helping to create awareness of the various NAJS programs. Ambassadors will attend awareness and fundraising events, traditional powwows and share the programs of NAJS throughout their communities. The ambassadors selected have received funding from 2015-2024.  Each student’s stories about their own higher education journey will help to inspire future students participating in the Native American Jump Start programs.

The 2025 Native American Jump Start Ambassadors are: Taylor Begay of Diné Nation (Red Masa, UT), O’Shay Birdinground of Apsaalooke “Crow” Tribe (Missoula, MT), Amanda Black of the Diné Nation (Flagstaff, AZ), Jacquelyn Cabarrubia of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (Amherst, MA), Skylar Evans of the Oglala Lakota (Waynesboro, VA), Andrea Garnett of the Spirit Lake Nation (Grand Forks, ND), Keegan and Sierra Her Many Horses of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (Pine Ridge, SD), and Gianni Lacey-Howard of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi (Durham, NC).

Native American Jump Start is thrilled to welcome incoming NAJS Ambassadors by highlighting their backgrounds and educational and employment achievements HERE.