American Indian Scholarships

Published April 22, 2011    By Partnership

It’s scholarship time! Kelly mentioned that National Relief Charities’ education program supports American Indian education through scholarships, scholastic resources, and more. Here is a list of tips and resources to help American Indian students who are thinking about college or seeking out scholarships:

• This website includes information on everything from initially looking at colleges to preparing applications and applying for financial aid and scholarships.
• The NIEA website gives information on colleges, Native American programs, and financing your education.
• The US Bureau of Indian Education and has information on scholarships, grants, getting into college, employment opportunities, and other educational resources.
• Download this free Tools for Success Handbook developed by our American Indian Education Foundation program specifically for Native students interested in college.

Students sometimes assume that only one scholarship can be applied for — there is no limit! You can apply for as many scholarships as you want or need. Several things to have on hand when applying for scholarships may include:  your ACT or SAT test scores, your college transcript(s), tribal enrollment card, a completed FAFSA (financial aid form), and a narrative or essay about why you want to go to college. You will also need the application form of each scholarship to which you will apply.

Although some scholarship deadlines have passed for the 2010-2011 academic year, these scholarships may be helpful if you’re a Native student who is college-bound now or in the future:

• American Indian Education Foundation offers 225 scholarships a year of $2,000 to enrolled members who meet our simple requirements. (Rapid City, SD), phone 605-342-9968
• American Indian Graduate Center (Albuquerque, NM), phone 505-881-4584
• American Indian College Fund awards 5,000 scholarships each year. (Denver, CO), phone  (800) 776-3863
• American Indian Science & Engineering Society Scholarships awards about 115 scholarships a year of $1,000 to $5,000.  (Albuquerque, NM), phone 505-765-1052
• American Indian Services Scholarship Program awards about 2,000 scholarships each year of $500 to $1500. (Provo, UT), phone 801-375-1777, email ais@americanindianservices.org
• Association on American Indian Affairs awards 50 scholarships a year of $500 to $1500. (Rockville, MD), phone 240-314-7155
• Association on American Indian Affairs Emergency Aid Scholarship awards 20 scholarships a year of $100 to $400. (Rockville, MD), phone 240-314-7155
• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program awards up to $5,000 for U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad for up to one academic year, as well as a limited number of $3,000 awards for students studying critical need languages
• Brown Foundation College Scholarships awards 10 scholarships a year of $1000. (Topeka, KS), phone 785-235-3939, email brownfound@juno.com
• Catching the Dream awards 250 scholarships a year of $500 to $500 per semester for students majoring in education, business, science, or engineering. (Albuquerque, NM), phone 505-262-2351 x116, email nscholarsh@aol.com
• Daughters of the American Revolution American Indian Scholarship awards Native American applicants with a GPA of 2.75 and proof of ancestry. (Washington, DC), phone 202-628-1776
• Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship (Arlington, VA), phone 703-875-0706
• Gates Millennium Scholars Program awards 1,000 scholarships to minority students with high school GPAs of 3.30 and financial need. (Fairfax, VA), phone 877-690-4677
• Indian Health Service Scholarship Program awards about 500 scholarships to enrolled members of state- or federally-recognized tribes, for undergraduate or graduate students majoring in health-related fields. (Rockville, MD), phone 301-443-6197
• International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons North American Indian Scholarship Program awards 50 scholarships of up to $650. (Chautauqua, NY), phone 716-357-4951
• Jackie Robinson Foundation Minority Scholarship awards about 100 need-based scholarships a year of up to $6,000. (New York, NY), phone: 212-290-8600
• Native American Education Grants awards 40 scholarships a year of $200 to $3,000. (Louisville, KY), phone 888-728-7228 x5776
• US Bureau of Indian Education awards 1200 scholarships of $300 to $900, based on financial need, for applicants enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe. Contact your tribe’s education office for more information

Many other scholarships are available to Native students who reside in a specific state. There is also a short list of scholarships available to enrolled members of sponsoring tribes. See AIEF’s Tools hand book and contact your tribal education office for more information.