The Texas Mayflower Society offered a Scholarship to aid tribal youth in furthering their education in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the first harvest. Bart Henson of the Mayflower Society stated, “We realize that without the instruction and help of the Wampanoag people, our ancestors may not have survived. We intend this as a gift of sincere thank you to the Wampanoag people for our early partnership and a commemoration of the first shared Harvest Festival in 1621. Helping Wampanoag youth to secure a good education beyond high school was a way we saw to support the local tribe into the future.”
Students were asked to provide a 500-word essay on what their tribal history means to them and how do they plan to further that heritage in the future. As well as provide their high school transcript and recommendation letter.
The three-person panel, a Mashpee Wampanoag Representative and two Mayflower descendants, chooses Tribal citizens, Dasia Peters and Alyssa Harris, as recipients of this scholarship award.
Dasia Peters, who is attending Bridgewater State University for Communications, met with a few Society representatives to receive her award.
“I was very honored to receive the generous award from the Texas Mayflower Society. This award will help me greatly as I work to earn my bachelor’s degree. I am grateful that the connection was made between the society and the Mashpee Wampanoag Education Department, and I hope to see it continue in the future,” said Dasia.
Dasia and her Father, Jermaine Peters, were hosted for dinner where Prarie Counce, Governor of the Texas Mayflower Society, presented Dasia with her award. “I was so happy to be able to meet and talk with Dasia Peters and her father. She is a most impressive young woman, and we are honored to be able to help her complete her education,” Counce said.
Alyssa Harris, who received her award via zoom, is studying at Suffolk University for Interior Design. She stated that “I’m glad that it was specifically English descendants that gave me this award because they reciprocated by helping me with school and finances while in the past Wampanoag people helped their ancestors with growing corn. Corn is something English people weren’t familiar with, while Wampanoag people didn’t have school or money pre-contact. Not only are we supporting each other, but we are supporting each other with things that both of our ancestors weren’t previously familiar with.”
Bart Henson, who chaired the selection committee, said, “We were very impressed with the Wampanoag youth who applied. Dasia Peters and Alyssa Harris were outstanding in many ways, and we love being a partner to help them finish their college training! With Wampanoag youth such as those who entered our scholarship competition, the tribe has a bright future!”
“We are so thankful for the help we received from the Mashpee Wampanoag Education department for helping to solicit students to apply as well as helping with choosing the winners. Roxanne Mills Brown and Cameron Greendeer were key to making these scholarships happen,” Henson stated.
Congratulations to Dasia Peters and Alyssa Harris! Thank you to the Texas Mayflower Society for offering the scholarship for our youth.
Please stay up to date on scholarship opportunities and training on our facebook.com/mwted or at www.mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/education.
