Sandpiper awards scholarships to SKC students

The Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts recently awarded $5,000 in scholarships to seven Salish Kootenai College students, each majoring in an art-related program. Recipients are:

Keithetta Quequesah, a Digital Design major who plans to develop a strong foundation in visual communication by combining traditional craftsmanship with modern digital tools. She uses her skills in beadwork, sewing and photography to advance towards her goal of becoming a fashion-related designer, merging her background in tactile arts with digital platforms.

Tina Maughan, who graduated in June from SKC’s Tribal Historic Preservation Bachelor of Arts program. She has applied to master's/doctoral programs that emphasize artifact preservation and reconstruction. Maughan attended the Fashion Design Program at Brooks College in California and has sold jewelry in Bigfork at "Creative and Native."

Vivika Rae Finley will graduate in 2026 with her associate’s degree in Fine Arts. Her work focuses primarily on nature photography. She has experimented with portraiture and growing up in Perma, was constantly surrounded by inspiring landscapes. She aspires to work at a professional level.

Darris Lopez is a first-year student in both the Digital Design and Fine Arts programs. He creates precision graphics using software applications and is interested in making interactive websites and creating visuals, concepts and graphics for individuals and companies.

Seattle Adams is a first-year student in the Fine Arts program, where she has gained experience in acrylic, watercolor, goache, markers, sculpture and oil pastels, as well as digital arts. She is currently exploring options for obtaining her master's degree in Fine Arts.

Mia Armijo will graduate from the Fine Arts program in 2027. She has created and sold handmade jewelry, and paints custom banners for birthdays and special events. She also helps with logo designs and murals. Armijo won first place with a piece of artwork at the most recent meeting of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium in North Dakota.

Dine' Warriors-Pistolbullet is a dual major, working on associate’s degrees in both Tribal Historic Preservation and Fine Arts. Her goal is to pursue a career as an educator in the cultural arts or work as a museum technician. Her work, which includes quillwork, beading, weaving, dance outfit construction, drawing, painting, mixed media and digital design, was featured twice in the February 2026 issue of the Tribal College Journal; she also completed an internship at Ninepipes Museum in Charlo and was an intern for two quarters with the Salish Kootenai College Art Department.

All scholarship honorees will receive a complementary student membership at Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts. They are also invited to display their artwork at the gallery and to participate in both of the gallery’s summer festivals: the Flathead Lake Festival of Art, July 18-19 at Sacajawea Park and the Courthouse Art Festival, Aug. 8 on the lawn of the Lake County Courthouse. Proceeds from these festivals help the gallery fund student scholarships.

For more information on art shows, gallery receptions, workshops, and memberships visit SandpiperArtGalleryandGifts.com.

    Painting by Seattle Adams
  

    Photography by Vivika Rae Finley