Tuscarora native Eliza Spina awarded HAL Scholarship

Submitted on behalf of the Historical Association of Lewiston

Eliza Spina, a member of the Wolf Clan of the Tuscarora Nation, was awarded this year’s Historical Association of Lewiston’s scholarship on Oct. 9, which was Indigenous Peoples Day.

A math enthusiast, Eliza is a freshman at Alfred State and is majoring in mechatronics with an eye toward becoming a robotics engineer. She is a graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School and the daughter of Mario Spina and Marilyn Patterson, the Wolf Clan mother.

Presenting the $750 scholarship was Historical Association President Ken Slaugenhoupt. Lewiston Museum Curator Tom Collister and Neil Patterson Sr. of the Tuscarora Council commemorated the occasion by memorializing the Native American history before Europeans settled in the area.

The Center Street ceremony was held at the Tuscarora Heroes Monument, which pays tribute to the Tuscarora Nation and the role it played in saving the lives of local citizens during the War of 1812 British attack on Lewiston.

Supervisor Steve Broderick was also in attendance.