Haley Quintanilla
Haley is a junior at the University of Nevada, Reno, studying rangeland management in the
College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. An enrolled member of the Karuk tribe in Northern California, she was originally drawn to forestry, but after taking a class on rangelands, she said the subject spoke to her. She later grew to love Nevada’s open ranges even more after working with the Nevada Conservation Core.
“I always thought that [rangeland] was not as exciting as forests, but I worked for a conservation crew and we did a lot of work in the Pine Nut Mountains,” she said. “I realized that it’s more than just sagebrush. There’s these little hidden oases and creeks, and there’s so much
diversity...there’s more to it than I assumed.”
She said the scholarship has had a considerable influence on her education, due to how much
of a financial help it was. In addition to helping monetarily, she also mentioned how it has
enriched her academic career. Because of the resources it provides, she has been able to
receive additional support that has helped her succeed in her classes.
“Dan...our counselor, he’s really awesome. He’s always checking in on us and making sure we
have everything we need,” she said. “I had taken a class, but it was honestly super confusing
and I wanted something I could study and do on my own or do one-on-one with someone, and he was able to get back to me the same day and give me those resources.”
She adds that the scholarship and the extra help has helped her prepare for her future,
including getting help with applying for an internship with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She
hopes that after graduation she can put all of her skills to use, and work full-time at the Bureau
of Indian Affairs in the division of Natural Resources. Eventually, she also said she’d like to
return to her reservation and work there.
“Taking this education I’m getting now and going back there, and being a part of my culture
again is really important to me.”
