For Students
Scholarships
ATTENTION STUDENTS: Your search for scholarship assistance and other financial aid can be very time consuming, but it usually pays off in the long run! Check out the following resources for possible opportunities and tips to help you in the process:
Scholarship Eligibility Criteria (updated and attached)
2008-09 Sample Higher/Vocational Education Scholarship Application (attached)
Short Term Vocational Education Scholarship Application (updated and attached)
Remember to check out scholarships available in your community (village corporations, tribal councils and local businesses, etc.)
Apply for scholarships from the college, university or vocational school you plan to attend.
In your application essay/narrative, refer to your goals of higher education and why you chose your field of study; what motivated you to pursue higher education.
Other Scholarships & Resources
Helpful Information from the U.S. Department of Education
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
One must complete and submit this application to apply for federal student aid and to apply for most state and college aid. (This includes the U.S. Department of Interior/Bureau of Indian Affairs Higher Education funding administered by Bristol Bay Native Association or potentially through other tribal organizations near where you reside).
Note: If you or your family has unusual or extenuating circumstances (such as loss of employment, etc.) consult with the financial aid officer at the college you plan to attend.
Be wary of organizations that charge a fee to submit your application to find you money for school. The help you pay for can be obtained for free from your school or from the U.S. Department of Education.
You may also complete the FAFSA on the web. A worksheet is available for you to complete prior to actually filing online. Visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ for more information. Note: The Alaska State Aid deadline was mid-April 2006.
The UAA Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program provides financial assistance for tuition and related expenses to eligible Alaska Native UAA students majoring in civil engineering. Go to www.uaa.alaska.edu/reslife/houses/ansep/ for more information.
The American Indian Graduate Center provides financial support for American Indian & Alaska Native college graduates who continue their education at the master’s doctorate and professional degree levels. Go to www.aigcs.org to request an application or more information. They also have partnerships with other organizations and offer a limited number of undergraduate scholarships as well.
Fort Lewis College offers a tuition waiver to qualified Alaska Native or American Indian students. Students are responsible for college fees and room and board. Go to www.fortlewis.edu/ for more information.
A publication called The CIRI Foundation Education Resource Handbook contains more than 20 pages of suggestions and financial aid information for Native students planning their post-secondary studies and careers. Go to www.ciri.com/tcf/ for more information. They also administer scholarships open to all Alaska Native college students: The Cap Lathrop Scholarship is for eligible Alaska Native students majoring in broadcast or telecommunications and the Howard Rock Scholarship is for eligible Alaska Native students whose ANCSA corporation or tribal affiliate organization is a member of Alaska Village Initiatives.
Harvard University wants to pay the tuition for your high school honor student if your family income is less than $40,000. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free … no tuition or student loans! Go to: http://adm-is.fas.harvard.edu/FAO/index.htm for more information.
A new website called e-Scholar has been developed to increase the number of minorities who take advantage of federally-funded scholarships and job opportunities. It lists more than $400 million in governmental scholarships, fellowships, grants and internships for high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Go to http://studentjobs.gov/e-scholars.htm for more information.
The Alaska Native Incentive Scholarship Fund at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was established by Dr. Ray Carroll, Ahtna Corporation shareholder to encourage Alaska Natives to study science and engineering. Contact finaid@mit.edu for more information.