In Partnership with Eves Fund for Native American Health Initiatives and other generous donors we are proud to announce our Male and Female Student Athletes of the year.
This Award is meant to highlight the success of Native Americans with physical disabilities success both in sport and in the classroom. Para sports have been proven to improve outcomes in health, education and employment and the athletes are a great example of its benefits. The awards recognize the students’ hard work and perseverance in overcoming obstacles to achieve their potential, both as athletes and students, redefining the possibilities for individuals with physical disabilities. They were selected for their success in the classroom and in the competitive arena as well as their future potential. These young people are inspiring examples for others to follow and they will be considered ambassadors for the Missions of Tribal Adaptive Organization and Eve’s Fund in Indian Country and wherever their futures take them. The young people selected for the inaugural 2021 awards will each receive a $1,500.00 scholarship and a custom design award plaque, made possible by financial support from Eve’s Fund.
The 2022 Tribal Adaptive female student-athlete honoree is Starla Martinez, a 20-year-old Navajo woman from Shiprock NM. She is Tábaahá (Water’s Edge Clan), born for Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle Clan). Her maternal grandfather is ‘Áshiihi (Salt Clan) and her paternal grandfather is Nihoobáani (Gray Streaked-Ends Clan). Starla was injured in an auto crash when she was four years old, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. She began playing wheelchair basketball in 2019 with the Tribal Adaptive Thunderbirds team and showed excellent development as a player and a teammate and is a fierce competitor on the court. Starla was chosen for this year’s Tribal Adaptive Student-Athlete Scholarship Award for her amazing persistence in completing her high school education and achieving enrollment at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico. She accomplished all of this during the Covid 19 pandemic when she lacked adequate access to the Internet and other important resources. Starla’s professional goal is to enter the medical field and help other Native Americans with disabilities. After a year or two more of training with the Tribal Adaptive Organization, her goal is to transfer to the University of Arizona and play wheelchair basketball for their prestigious women’s team.
Gianni Quintero is the 2022 Tribal Adaptive male student-athlete honoree. A 14-year-old high school student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he is affiliated with the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin. Gianni caught an upper respiratory virus in September of 2014 that paralyzed him from his hip down in the left leg, at which point he started playing wheelchair basketball. Gianni is now in his eighth season playing ball for the Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA). Over the past eight years, his WASA team won a national championship, and also took second and third place. Last year, Gianni was selected MVP of the regional tournament for wheelchair basketball. Gianni commenced his track and field career in the spring of 2022 with the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, and qualified for junior nationals, taking first place in javelin and discus and first place in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter. This year he is playing wheelchair basketball for the WASA varsity team and will also play D2 for the Wisconsin Thunder. This coming spring, he will begin his high school track and field career with Marquette University High School in Milwaukee. Gianni’s goal is to play wheelchair basketball at the college level and eventually for Team USA.