Flying Toward a Dream

   By Monica V.

Alaska Native Ben has spent much of his life trying to keep warm. “We’re chopping wood all the time,” he shared. Ben grew up in McGrath, Alaska, where temperatures can drop as low as -64 degrees. McGrath is home to roughly 300 people – an isolated village only accessible via boat, snow machine, or plane, depending on the season. Living with few resources, Ben spent his time chopping wood for his family and community members and doing odd jobs like fixing snow machines. He shared, “It’s a lot of work living there, but it’s fun.”

With only four teachers for all grades and no local university, Ben’s dream of attending college meant leaving home. Thankfully, Ben received a scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year from the American Indian Education Fund® (AIEF) program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA).

Ben is pursuing a lifelong dream of being a professional pilot, a skill he’ll use to help his community. He told us, “Being an Alaskan Native, I know the need for fresh goods such as fruits and vegetables. In my village, there is only one store that isn’t very big but has the necessities. Being a pilot, I can serve the community I grew up in by bringing goods or mail or connecting people throughout the villages.”

Ben is now attending his first year of school at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. He keeps busy with flying practice, studying, chess club, Bible study, and a part-time job at night.

Only 19% of 18 to 24-year-old Native students are enrolled in college compared to 41% of the overall U.S. population. Ben expressed gratitude toward AIEF donors for his financial opportunity, saying that without their support, “A lot of people wouldn’t be able to go to college or try to get a degree. It just wouldn’t be possible. My financial need is high, and I greatly appreciate this scholarship. I wouldn’t be able to pay for college otherwise. It lifted a burden off the amount of debt I’d have to go into. It’s just amazing to get anything from anyone generous enough to donate it!”

Our AIEF program addresses the unequal opportunity faced by Native students. You can contribute to the dreams of students in need like Ben by donating to AIEF today.