Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Commits $450,000 to Solano College Scholarships

The investment will provide $150,000 annually in need-based funding to help Vallejo students access higher education.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:20pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a student studying at a desk, with the scene composed entirely of soft, warm pools of light and color.Scholarship funding empowers Vallejo students to pursue their educational goals and transform their futures.Vallejo Today

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is committing $450,000 over three years to expand the Momhi Scholarship Program at Solano Community College. The investment will provide $150,000 annually in scholarship funding to help students from Vallejo, including working adults and single parents, access higher education opportunities.

Why it matters

The Momhi Scholarship Program aims to remove financial barriers and improve college retention and completion rates for underserved students in the Vallejo community. This investment reflects the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation's broader commitment to strengthening communities throughout their ancestral Patwin homelands.

The details

The Momhi Scholarship Program is need-based, with larger awards available to students facing the greatest financial obstacles, such as single parents and working adults returning to school. Since the program began, 94 Vallejo students have already received scholarships, helping make college attainable for those who might otherwise be unable to attend.

  • The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is committing $450,000 over the next three years.
  • The $150,000 annual scholarship funding will begin in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The players

Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation

A self-governed, sovereign Patwin Tribe that has lived, stewarded, and maintained a deep cultural connection to their ancestral homelands in California's Capay Valley and surrounding regions for generations.

Solano Community College Educational Foundation

The non-profit organization that manages scholarship programs and other initiatives to support students at Solano Community College.

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What they’re saying

“Education creates opportunity not just for individuals, but for entire communities. The Momhi Scholarship reflects our belief in sharing resources and opportunity with communities across our Patwin homelands, helping Vallejo students pursue their goals and strengthen the region we all share.”

— Anthony Roberts, Tribal Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribal Council

“For many Vallejo students, especially working adults and single parents, scholarship funding is life-changing. It allows them to stay in college, support their families, and continue moving toward a degree that once felt out of reach. This kind of support doesn't just help students persist, it transforms their futures. This scholarship is a critical investment in Vallejo students. It removes financial barriers, improves retention, and empowers working adults and single parents to complete their education and change the trajectory of their lives.”

— Carolyn Warne, Director of the Solano Community College Educational Foundation

What’s next

The Momhi Scholarship Program will begin providing the $150,000 in annual funding to Vallejo students starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The takeaway

This investment from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation demonstrates their commitment to supporting educational opportunities and uplifting underserved communities within their ancestral Patwin homelands. By removing financial barriers, the Momhi Scholarship Program aims to empower Vallejo students, especially working adults and single parents, to pursue and complete their higher education goals.