Awards & Recognitions

In 2007, Rita was awarded the prestigious Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship, which fully funded her education, including living expenses. This life-changing scholarship paved the way for Rita to break free from poverty and pursue higher education. With its support, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gonzaga University and a Master of Education degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, setting her on a path of personal and professional transformation.

Since college, Rita has been invited to speak at numerous events as a guest speaker, panelist, and keynote speaker. Most recently, she was honored by the City of Seattle’s Race & Social Justice (RSJ) Initiative for her significant contributions to advancing race and social justice in the City over the past 20 years.

As an AVID graduate in 2007, Rita was invited to speak at various events across Washington State. In 2009, she had the honor of delivering a speech at the AVID Summer Institute in Sacramento, CA, where she shared her story and experiences with educators and students from across the country.

In September 2023, Rita was a member of the first all-Native group to climb Mount Tahoma (Mount Rainier). This group, including, Rachel, Gill, Tayla, Mercedes, Steven, Jennifer, and Rita made history with this groundbreaking achievement.