Get to Know Tracey Yazzie- Distinguished Senior, Gold Axe Award winner, and received the President’s Prize
Meet NAU College of Nursing student, Tracey Yazzie, the first-generation transfer student also was named an Udall Scholar and a Cobell Scholar and is part of the American Indian Program cohort in nursing. In addition to those national scholarships, she did significant community service both mentoring and promoting access to healthcare on the Navajo Nation and throughout northern Arizona. Tracey was recently named the Distinguished Senior, Gold Axe Award winner, and received the President’s Prize. Get to know Tracey Yazzie.
1. What first inspired you to pursue a nursing degree? My inspiration to become a nurse began when I started my career as a medical assistant with Chinle IHS in 2010. Working alongside nurses, I saw how they cared for patients with compassion and cultural understanding. While working with the mobile medical unit, I witnessed how far we could reach yet how many elders and families still lived beyond the paved roads without consistent access to care. That experience opened my eyes to the reality of healthcare on the reservation and inspired me to become a nurse who could help close that gap. I want to be the person who brings care to patients’ homes and advocates for those who might otherwise go unseen. My father also inspired me deeply. He battled multiple myeloma for a year before we lost him after a late diagnosis. Watching his strength and the compassion of his nurses showed me the true meaning of empathy in healthcare. His memory continues to drive me to become the kind of nurse who provides not only care, but also hope and dignity to every patient I meet.
2. Both the Distinguished Senior and Gold Axe Awards honor students who have made a meaningful impact both on campus and in the broader community. How have you been involved during your time at NAU, and what experiences have been most meaningful to you? During my time at NAU, I’ve been honored to take part in several organizations that helped shape my leadership, values, and purpose: Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Sigma, AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society), and the School of Nursing. I was also recognized as a Udall Scholar, which gave me opportunities to advocate for Native healthcare and help strengthen representation in nursing. Each of these experiences allowed me to grow, give back, and represent Native students with pride and purpose in spaces where our voices are often underrepresented.
Nursing school has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. The program tested our strength and determination, but what made it truly meaningful was the bond we built, especially among the few Native students in our cohort. We encouraged one another through every exam, clinical, and long night of studying. That unity reminded me that representation in nursing is powerful; we carry our families, our stories, and our people with us. Knowing that I’ve been part of paving the way for future Native nursing students has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.
3. In addition to these awards, you were also named a 2024 Udall Scholar for your dedication to Native healthcare. Could you share a bit about that experience and the work that led to receiving that honor? Being named a Udall Scholar was one of the most meaningful moments of my academic journey. It recognized my dedication to improving healthcare access for Indigenous communities, especially in rural and reservation areas where services are often limited. My passion grew from firsthand experience working in community outreach and mobile clinics, where I saw how deeply distance, transportation, and poverty create barriers to care. Many elders and families struggled to receive even basic services, and that reality pushed me to focus on solutions that bring healthcare to the people through education, prevention, and telehealth.
Through the Udall Foundation, I connected with other Native scholars and leaders from across the country who share the same mission of building healthier communities rooted in culture and respect. That experience reminded me that nursing is more than a career; it’s a calling to lead with compassion, serve with purpose, and be a voice for equity in the places that need it most.
4. Looking back on your time at NAU, what are some of your favorite memories or experiences from the nursing program? Some of my favorite memories come from moments of growth, those long clinical days where everything I studied finally connected with real-life care. Working side by side with my classmates, supporting one another through exams, skills check-offs, and projects, created a bond that truly feels like family. I especially enjoyed my maternal-child rotations, where I had the chance to care for mothers and newborns and witness the beauty and strength of those moments firsthand. I also loved spending time in the simulation lab, where real-life scenarios and advanced mannequins made learning both challenging and exciting. The instructors who guided us made nursing school tough, but they also made it fun and meaningful, pushing us to think critically and never give up. Those experiences, along with the laughter, late-night studying, the 3-hour commute, and friendships, are memories I’ll carry with me long after graduation.
5. What does it mean to you to be recognized with both the Distinguished Senior and the Gold Axe Awards? To me, these awards are far more than an honor; they’re a reflection of perseverance, faith, and community. They represent years of dedication, sacrifice, and the countless moments when giving up wasn’t an option. They carry the love and encouragement of my family, the guidance of my professors, and the strength of my peers who walked this journey beside me. Every late night, every challenge, and every victory led to this moment, one that I share with everyone who believed in me. As a Navajo woman, wife, mother, and first-generation college student, being recognized as both a Distinguished Senior and Gold Axe recipient is profoundly meaningful. It’s proof that with determination and heart, even the most difficult paths can lead to something extraordinary. This recognition isn’t just mine; it belongs to my family, my nursing cohort, and every Native student who continues to rise above challenges and pursue their dreams. It’s a reminder that we carry our ancestors’ strength within us, and through education, we continue to create a legacy of hope and resilience for generations to come.
6. What are your plans for after graduation? After graduation, I plan to return home and continue my career with the Indian Health Service, serving the Navajo Nation and the communities that shaped who I am. My goal is to give back through compassionate, culturally grounded care and to help strengthen healthcare access across our rural areas. While I’m still exploring which nursing specialty I’ll pursue, my purpose is unwavering to serve my people with heart, humility, and strength. In time, I hope to advance my education and become an advanced practice nurse, continuing to lead, teach, and advocate for the next generation. No matter where my path leads, my heart will always lead me home. My journey is proof that with faith, perseverance, and purpose, we can overcome anything and build a healthier future for our people.