College is not free for Native Americans. In fact, Native students face MANY educational barriers, from funding to the digital divide and racial prejudice. Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) opens doors for Native youth through its American Indian Education Fund® (AIEF) program, offering scholarships along with mentoring to support student retention. 

AIEF scholar Kylie of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe has traveled a long way to get her education. Nine hours away from her home in St. John, North Dakota, Kylie is a first-year student at the University of South Dakota (USD).  

After being selected as a 2022-2023 AIEF scholarship recipient, Kylie noted, “I was relieved that I didn’t have to stress about getting the education I wanted.” As a marketing major, she was drawn to USD because of its reputation for business and its support system for Native students. 

In addition, USD offers different community clubs for students to support one another. For instance, the “Wiyuskinyan Unpi Tipi” community translates from Lakota to, “They are living contently.” There, Kylie makes connections and gets advice from other Native students. “It’s unique and rewarding being Native American. At school, I’m representing my tribe. Most of the students here are Lakota, so it’s been interesting to see the differences in culture.” 

Graduation is not a given for any student. In 2021, high school graduation rates for Native students in North Dakota were lower than any other racial group. In part, this is due to poor performance by Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. And like 80% of Native youth, Kylie’s parents don’t hold a college degree; however, all her siblings went to college, and she’s following in their footsteps. 

Kylie has always had a keen sense of time management. “Growing up, I had to balance extracurriculars, sports, classes, and make time for family and friends.” In college, she continues with a busy schedule, taking part in a marketing club on campus and working as a referee for intramural volleyball. 

“Thanks to this AIEF scholarship, I’ve had new experiences and networking opportunities. Without it, I wouldn’t have been so successful.”  

Kylie was one of 170 students to receive an AIEF scholarship that year. Your AIEF support matters to Kylie and other Native students who are determined to get a good education.