TACOMA, Wash. – The University of Puget Sound is proud to announce incoming students Tdohasan Chastang Sunray of Arcadia, Oklahoma, and Daisy Davidson-Innis of Salt Lake City, Utah, as the two newest recipients of the prestigious Matelich Scholarship for the Class of 2027.
The Matelich Scholarship, funded by George E. Matelich ’78 and Susan E. Matelich, is awarded to exceptional students who embody the university's commitment to academic excellence, inspirational leadership, and community engagement. Among our most prestigious scholarships, it covers tuition, fees, and room and board for up to four years at Puget Sound.
Sunray and Davidson-Innis are part of a cohort of 24 Matelich Scholars named since the program began awarding scholarships in 2012.
Tdohasan Chastang Sunray (He/Him) (Arcadia, OK)
Tdohasan Chastang Sunray ’27, is an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and a member of their traditional society known as the Kiowa Gourd Clan. He is also Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, and MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. Sunray is a creative writing student who excelled at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, a two-week intensive arts camp, for three years. Sunray was also a National Student Poet's Program semi-finalist and had one of his poetry pieces published in the Scholastic Awards Best Teen Writing for 2022.
In addition to his creative pursuits, Sunray is an accomplished athlete, having served as the co-captain of his high school's varsity basketball team and earning the MVP title. He's also a dedicated long-distance runner on the track and field team, qualifying for the state championships twice. Sunray’s leadership extends to his role as a Tribal Youth Ambassador at the Tribal Youth Resource Center, where he worked to support Native communities during COVID-19 by hosting Zoom seminars on pressing issues and intertribal cultural sharing.
At Puget Sound, Sunray is a member of the Logger basketball team, plans to major in English and continue contributing to his indigenous community. His commitment to his tribal traditions, athletics, and writing makes him an inspiring addition to the Matelich Scholars Program.
Daisy Davidson-Innis (She/Her/They/Them) (Salt Lake City, UT)
Daisy Davidson-Innis ’27 advocates for educational access and social justice issues in her community. She served as a Planned Parenthood Teen Council Member, where she gathered sexual health and wellness information to educate her peers. This work was essential due to Utah's strict state laws that emphasize abstinence education and limit discussions about sexual health.
During the 2022-23 Utah State Legislative Sessions, Davidson-Innis lobbied her state representatives on various bills related to full-day Kindergarten, free period products in public schools, and comprehensive sexual assault education. She also fought against transphobic legislation, which seeks to ban transgender-affirming care for minors. She intends to continue her advocacy work at Puget Sound, using her privilege to promote educational access, sexual health, well-being, and community safety.
Her dedication to educational advocacy and her leadership roles in high school and community make her a remarkable addition to the Matelich Scholars Program.
About the Matelich Scholars Program
The Matelich Scholars Program, established in 2010, is designed to provide future generations of students with the opportunity to pursue life-changing education at Puget Sound. Both George E. Matelich ’78 and Susan E. Matelich were the first members of their families to graduate from a four-year college. George is a senior advisory partner of Kelso & Company, chair of the Board of American Prairie, a past member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council, and a trustee emeritus at University of Puget Sound. Susan currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of American Prairie and is secretary of the Board of the New York Botanical Garden Board of Trustees. Two Matelich Scholars are selected each year from the incoming first-year class.
For information about the Matelich Scholars Program eligibility, please contact the Office of Admission at 253.879.3211 or visit pugetsound.edu.
