A two-year college degree can boost income by $10,000 a year over a high school grad’s earnings. But with only 9% of Native Americans holding an associate degree, many struggle to find gainful employment and break the cycle of poverty.

Nearly two decades in the making, 36-year-old Hayley of the Turtle Mountain Tribe is getting her college degree thanks to support from the American Indian Education Fund (AIEF), a program of Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA). Hayley’s AIEF vocational scholarship – made possible by the Grow With Google (GWG) Indigenous Career Readiness Program – is helping her complete her final semester at Cankdeska Cikana Community College in North Dakota. She’ll graduate in May 2023 with an associate degree in business administration and a certificate in administrative assistance. She’s even received four President List awards.

Hayley first enrolled in college after high school but dropped out after a year. “I was not ready.” She didn’t think she’d ever go back, but becoming a parent changed her outlook on life. Now wanting to serve as an example to her daughter Abbi, she shares, “I want to show her just how important education is and where it can take you. It helps you to navigate successfully in the world today.”

Hayley decided to attend college online during the pandemic, restarting her education while simultaneously teaching her daughter at home. “It was meant to be. This scholarship allowed me to go to school online and get my daughter through homeschooling at the same time.” Now, Hayley is graduating as Abbi finishes second grade. “I couldn’t have done it without the help from this scholarship. I would have had to find another source of income in the middle of a pandemic which would have been hard. This scholarship gives me breathing room to go to school full-time and not have to worry about bills. Financial burdens can drain you emotionally and lead to a lot of students dropping out and giving up.”

Thanks to AIEF and GWG, Hayley learned necessary digital skills, like how to organize files on Google Drive, that have helped her stay on track with all her classes. “I have a folder for each class and semester, so I can always go back into them if I need a reference for any information, and it is so easily accessible.” This modern training will help Hayley go far in her future career. “It will most definitely help me stay organized, and I will know where all my materials will be on the computer. Being organized in a business setting is very important, and it will help me be successful.”

Hayley has big plans after graduation and is excited about all the new possibilities with her degree. “Business administration can be done in many forms, and job opportunities are endless.” Hayley and her fiancé also plan to start a flooring business. “That will give us a chance to give back to our community.”

To AIEF donors, Hayley expresses her gratitude. “This scholarship gives you financial breathing room to do all that is needed to better yourself and your family’s future. Thank you for providing me with the scholarship and making going back to college 15 years later successful!” Donate to AIEF to support the dreams of more Native scholars like Hayley.