Announcing the 2026 Tewaaraton Outstanding Haudenosaunee Scholarships Presented by Hildene Capital

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Tewaaraton Foundation has announced Jayden James and Jordyn Hill-Bucktooth as the recipients of the 2026 Tewaaraton Outstanding Haudenosaunee Scholarships Presented by Hildene Capital, recognizing two outstanding student-athletes who embody excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and service while honoring the traditions and heritage of the Creator’s Game.

“The Haudenosaunee Scholarship represents the heart of the Tewaaraton Foundation’s mission — honoring the origins of the game while supporting the next generation of leaders who will carry its traditions forward,” said Brett Jefferson, a Tewaaraton Foundation Board of Governors member and the Founder, President, and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Hildene Capital. “Jayden and Jordyn have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the classroom, in competition, and within their communities, while remaining deeply connected to the cultural significance of lacrosse. We are proud to recognize them as this year’s scholarship recipients.”

Jayden James, an enrolled member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe of Akwesasne, has distinguished himself both on and off the field throughout his career at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. A four-year National Honor Society member, James earned the Academic Honor with Distinction Award each year while developing into one of the nation’s premier lacrosse players. Ranked the No. 1 defenseman in the country in the Class of 2026, he earned All-World Team honors in youth lacrosse along with first-team All-Met and first-team All-Star recognition in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. This fall, James will matriculate at Syracuse University, where he will join the Orange men’s lacrosse program.

“Lacrosse is more than a sport to me — it is a gift from my ancestors, a thread that connects me to my heritage and to every generation that carried this game forward before me,” said James.

Jordyn Hill-Bucktooth, a member of the Turtle Clan of the Upper Cayuga of the Grand River, began playing box lacrosse at the age of three and has emerged as one of the top goalkeepers in the country. At the Loomis Chaffee School, Hill-Bucktooth earned membership in the National Honor Society, consecutive Magna Cum Laude honors on the National Latin Exam, and recognition through the CollegeBoard National Indigenous Recognition Program. On the field, she recorded 367 career saves and a 56% save percentage during her high school career. Hill-Bucktooth will matriculate at the University of Rochester this fall and will join the Yellowjackets women’s lacrosse program.

“Lacrosse has always been more than a sport to me,” said Hill-Bucktooth. “Growing up, it was how I stayed connected to my culture and my people. I never want to lose that — no matter how far the game takes me.”

The Tewaaraton Haudenosaunee Scholarship was established to recognize Haudenosaunee student-athletes who excel academically and athletically while demonstrating a commitment to their communities and the values of the game of lacrosse. Hill-Bucktooth and James will be announced live at the Andrew W Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., on May 28. Tickets are available now.

For more information on the Tewaaraton Foundation, visit tewaaraton.com. Like and follow The Tewaaraton Foundation at facebook.com/tewaaraton, twitter.com/tewaaraton and instagram.com/tewaaraton.

About The Tewaaraton Foundation

The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Founded at the University Club of Washington, D.C., the award was first presented in 2001 with permission from the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders. “Tewaaraton” is the Mohawk word for lacrosse, and The Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse’s Native American Heritage. The Tewaaraton Foundation ensures the integrity of the selection process and advances the mission of the Foundation. Each year, The Tewaaraton Foundation presents two scholarships to students from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora Nations.

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