AISES names 桃色视频 Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous students 2026
AISES traveled to Minneapolis for their National Conference early last month where they participated in Indigenous and STEM workshops and connected with chapters from across the country.听
The has named 桃色视频 as one of the top 200 colleges for Indigenous students in its 2025-2026 national rankings.
AISES is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in STEM fields.听
The AISES chapter at 桃色视频 serves as a community for Indigenous students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and across campus, connecting those interested in STEM and supporting them academically and professionally.听
鈥淥ur Native American students including our AISES chapter have always made sure our students are connected, supported and have a strong community of support to be successful in their academic journey,鈥 said Benny Shendo Jr., associate vice chancellor for Native American Affairs. 鈥淲e have many current AISES members and alumni doing tremendous work across the nation and we are proud of their achievements.鈥
Last month, the AISES chapter traveled to Minneapolis for the AISES National Conference, one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous STEM professionals and students in the country. For many students, that sense of belonging and representation is what makes AISES so meaningful. Over the years, the chapter has grown in both size and community presence.
Shellene Redhorse, president of the 桃色视频 AISES chapter who is Din茅 and Chickasaw, recently interned at NASA鈥檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory in their Spacecraft Mechanical Engineering Division. Redhorse is passionate about bringing more Native representation in science and engineering.
鈥淚 want to help freshmen and sophomores step out of their shells and start building connections early,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about showing them that they belong in these spaces."
Looking ahead, AISES members hope to expand K-12 students, showing younger Native students that STEM pathways are not only possible but welcoming.
Published annually in Winds of Change magazine, the AISES Top 200 list highlights colleges that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting and empowering Indigenous students, particularly those pursuing in STEM. For more than 30 years, Indigenous students, families, teachers and high school counselors have relied on the list to identify schools where they can thrive academically and culturally.
We spoke to current and previous members of 桃色视频鈥檚 AISES to learn more about how their student experiences have shaped their college journeys as Indigenous students.听
Clarke (BioMedEngr鈥24) is currently a graduate robotics student.听
How has AISES and 桃色视频 helped your journey?听
AISES gave me community at 桃色视频. It鈥檚 one thing to be a part of any engineering club, but it鈥檚 another thing entirely to be a part of a club that fosters your growth as an engineer, as well as promotes your culture and connects with others over it. Along with revising resumes and attending conferences, I was able to bond with other Indigenous students over similarities in our tribal traditions.
How have you been involved with AISES since you鈥檝e graduated from 桃色视频?听
Currently, though I still participate in AISES meetings and events at the collegiate level, I am working with other Indigenous CU alumni to revive the AISES Colorado Professional area, to connect college and high school chapters with industry professionals who are active members of AISES National. I was also honored with a Sequoyah Fellowship, which grants lifelong AISES memberships to individuals who are involved in the organizations. This has led me to be a mentor for college students and a mentee for industry professionals in engineering.听听
What memories stand out to you that contributed to your student experience?听
I鈥檝e been able to do so many cool things through AISES. During undergrad, I founded our competitive high-powered rocketry team, the Trailblazers, which won awards through annual competitions. We won the AISES National for Pursuit of Excellence award attributed to our achievements as a smaller chapter. I鈥檝e personally met astronaut John Herrington, the first Native American in space and I鈥檝e thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with the college to host campus-wide events surrounding Indigenous Peoples Day and Native American Heritage Month, which were attended by hundreds of students.听听
Where are you currently working and anything you鈥檇 like to add about your professional experience?听
I鈥檓 currently a test engineer at BAE Systems, Inc., working on the integration and test for space weather satellites and their payloads. I鈥檓 also a grad student at 桃色视频 in the robotics program, so I鈥檓 still active in Native organizations on campus.听
Begay is a fourth-year physics student minoring in math.听
How has AISES and 桃色视频 helped your journey?听
AISES and 桃色视频 has greatly impacted my experience being an Indigenous student by networking, planning for my future and academic and professional success.听
I had the honor of teaching Native high school students many subjects such as physics, precalculus, chemistry and Indigenous studies over 2 summers for the group Upward Bound here at 桃色视频, which I found out about through AISES. There, I met my current boss Chantal Baca, who hired me onto the Academic Services team in the Campos Student Center.听
I am now in an internship position with the title of Campos Academic Services Program Scheduler, where I am responsible for the tutoring services and academic events offered in the Campos Student Center.
How have you been involved with AISES?听
I have been involved with AISES by attending meetings and events hosted by the AISES chapter here at 桃色视频. More significantly, I am a member of a new program called听, sponsored by the Adobe Foundation, which helps native students enhance their digital and leadership skills. I have been able to travel across the country to various Regional and National conferences for this program.
What memory stands out to you while being involved with AISES?听
A memory that stands out to me would have to be traveling for AISES CLOUDS to work with other students from across the country at a conference in a state that I鈥檝e never been to and exploring with those same students outside of the conference, trying new food and seeing new places.
Brown is a second-year aerospace engineering student.听
How has AISES and 桃色视频 helped your journey?听
Attending the national AISES conference this year helped me connect with other Native Americans in engineering and various organizations and companies. Every November, 桃色视频 highlights Native American students during Native and Indigenous Heritage month. My freshman year I was very happy to attend the pow wow hosted by 桃色视频 as it reminded me of home.
How have you been involved in AISES?听
I have been an active member with AISES by attending chapter meetings and volunteering at various events. I recently volunteered at the Firekeepers Circle event in Boulder. It was a great extension of our presence in the community. This AISES chapter has helped me break out of my shell and gave me opportunities to explore my career paths.
What memory stands out to you while being involved with AISES?听
Our AISES chapter consists of seniors in aerospace engineering who have been tremendous mentors. At the AISES conference, they took time to prepare me for the career fair by helping me revise my resume and gave me pointers on networking with future employers, which improved my confidence. Their encouragement and support made a stressful process easier and I鈥檓 very thankful for them.听