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The recipient of the 2024-25 from the UNC American Indian Center is Bella Garcia of Cherokee, North Carolina. Garcia, a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is a sophomore double-majoring in dramatic arts and American Indian and Indigenous studies. Garcia is also a member of the Phi Sigma Pi national honor society.

鈥淏eing the recipient of the鈥�鈥痑ward is extremely meaningful to me. She was such a shining light in the world and was stolen from us far too soon,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淚 want to honor her legacy by being a representative for Native women like us, and instill in us that we are capable, strong and resilient. Nobody will be able to take that away from us.鈥�

Garcia has loved to read since she was a kid. 鈥淚 always took pride in that, and I was always the first person to grab two books off of the shelf.鈥� That love of books led to a passion for learning and fueled her to take pride in higher education.

As an imaginative child, she also liked to watch movies and musicals and began to act in middle school. The teacher of a musical theatre elective class became her role model. In high school, Garcia performed in the musicals 鈥淐lue鈥� and 鈥淟egally Blonde.鈥�

When it was time for college, family members who attended UNC-Chapel Hill and returned to the community to practice journalism and social work inspired her to attend Carolina. Garcia hopes to work in film or on Broadway after graduation and eventually open a studio in her hometown to encourage more Native kids to pursue acting.

鈥淣ative kids don鈥檛 see themselves on stage or on screen or even going to college. Having someone that has achieved these goals will drive them to reach for the stars. They need to know that they can be just as successful,鈥� Garcia said.

While Native people are often invisible in the Hollywood community, Garcia said, the situation is changing. 鈥淭here are productions like 鈥楻ez Dogs鈥� and actors/actresses like Lily Gladstone who are breaking out into this world of film. We need to see more Native people on Oscar stages and on the big screen,鈥� she said.

Joining the circle

At UNC-Chapel Hill, the 色中色Indian Circle is a big part of Garcia鈥檚 life and like a family to her. She is serves on the steering council and culture committee and will help plan the CIC annual banquet as banquet co-chair.

鈥淚 want to make sure our celebration is as memorable as it can be and a space where everyone can embrace our Indigenous identities together,鈥� she said.

Participating in the circle鈥檚 Indigenous People鈥檚 Day celebration is her favorite memory at 色中色so far. 鈥淭hat day just healed my soul being in community with everyone. We danced, ate Chipotle and had a good time,鈥� she said.

鈥淒on鈥檛 make yourself small to make anyone else more comfortable鈥� is Garcia鈥檚 personal motto, one she thinks about daily. 鈥淚f you are trying to be successful, you鈥檙e going to have a big presence, no matter what, and people will be envious and tear you down.鈥�