Biography

The 2024 Tribal Adaptive female student-athlete honoree is Devyn J. Kazhe, a 26-year-old member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe who hails from Paguate, New Mexico. Devyn was injured in an automobile crash in 2021, shortly after her 23rd birthday, resulting in complete paralysis from the chest down. She has been training to compete in hand cycling and wheelchair basketball for a year. Devyn will continue participating in these sports at a competitive level when she begins her studies at San Juan Community College in Farmington this fall. Devyn particularly enjoys English classes, reading poetry, and writing. 

“The Tribal Adaptive Student-Athlete Scholarship will enable me to further my mission to amplify Indigenous voice and perspective, creating awareness among individuals who may not understand the life or views of a person living with a disability within Indian Country.”

Adaptive Sports

Biography

Benjamin R. Cuevas is the 2024 Tribal Adaptive male student-athlete honoree. The 29-year-old member of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe from Mesa, Arizona, will transfer to Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, this fall. A former College National Champion basketball player at Phoenix College who has coached pro and college athletes out of Arizona, Ben lost the functioning of his legs following the removal in 2021 of a benign tumor that wrapped around his spine. Ben has been playing wheelchair basketball for a year and is thrilled to be back in the game he’s loved since childhood. Ben’s favorite courses have been psychology and criminology, and he hopes to eventually earn a PhD in psychology and open his own practice. He also hopes to return to coaching basketball. 

“Thanks to adaptive athletics, I have big goals and aspirations once again. I’m so grateful for this scholarship and for having opportunities in life despite my disability.”

Adaptive Sports