2017-19 Native Pathways to College Bridge Program Grantees

Dec 1, 2017 | Blog, Student Success

In the spring of 2017, the College Fund awarded four tribal college and university grantees $50,000 each for two consecutive years to implement a year-round program to increase the college readiness and college-going-environments for American Indian and Alaska Native high school sophomores, juniors and seniors preparing for a higher education.

The program aims to improve reading comprehension, research and essay-writing, understanding of math and science concepts, knowledge of college admissions processes, and awareness of the first-year college experience amongst program participants.

Participatory colleges include Fort Peck Community College, Wolf Point, Mont.; Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Spirit Lake, North Dakota; Northwest Indian College, Bellingham, Wash.; and Ilisagvik College, Barrow, Alaska.

For more information on this program please contact Teresa Melendez, College Success Coordinator
Phone: (303) 430-5359 | E-mailtmelendez@collegefund.org

Program Grant Recipients

logo- Cankdeska Cikana Community College

Cankdeska Cikana Community College
The Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) Bridge Program is designed to increase college readiness and provide a college-going environment for high school students preparing for higher education. Emphasis is placed on increasing academic skills such as reading comprehension, research and essay writing, science and mathematical concepts, college admissions knowledge, and first-year college experience awareness.

CCCC will offer a three-week summer institute covering a variety of disciplines to increase or enhance multiple academic skills to prepare for college. Beginning in August 2017, it will offer weekend academies, one each month for five hours through April. The CCCC Bridge Program goals aim to increase or enhance academic skills, increase the number of college bound students on the Spirit Lake Nation and local communities, inform parents of the college process and to offer assistance, and teach Dakota values to strengthen self-esteem and confidence. Students will be eligible for a stipend at the completion of each session.

Learn more about the program with this informational brochure.

Contact Information:
Cheryl Longie, Director TRIO Talent Search
Phone: (701) 766-1318 | E-mailcheryl.longie@littlehoop.edu

Fort Peck Community College
The BRIDGE Academy is a Fort Peck Community College (FPCC) initiative focused on providing Fort Peck High School students with increased college access planning and early entrance opportunities. Forty high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors each year will be selected to participate from Brockton, Poplar, Wolf Point and Frazer schools. Students will be matched with a web of FPCC college student mentors and staff to work their way through college curriculum, college campus visits, culturally focused backpacking trips, and life-planning coursework.

For more information visit the Fort Peck Community College website.

Learn more about the program with this informational brochure.

Contact Information:
Elijah Hopkins, Vice President for Student Services
Phone:  (406) 768-6371 | E-mail: ehopkins@fpcc.edu

logo - Ilisagvik College

Ilisagvik College
Located in Barrow, Alaska, Ilisagvik College is the only tribal college in Alaska. Ilisagvik College is dedicated to perpetuating and strengthening Iñupiat culture, language, values and traditions.

Ilisagvik will deliver the Native Pathways to College curricula to North Slope youth and help students transition to college through parent community nights and the Bridge curriculum.

The 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and summer 2018 programs will be delivered in person, through teleconference and online using Moodle, Blackboard and Google Apps for Education.

Learn more about the program with this informational brochure.

Contact Information:
Dr. Pearl Brower, Iḷisaġvik President and Bridge Program Administrator
Phone: (907) 852-1820 | E-mailpearl.brower@ilisagvik.edu

logo - Northwest Indian College

Northwest Indian College
Northwest Indian College (NWIC) is committed to helping youth engage in meaningful opportunities to experience and discover their potential as learners in higher education. The NWIC College Pathways Bridge Program and Summer Camp is offered to students entering tenth-twelfth grade during the 2016-17 school year. In summer, participants will engage in a two-week learning program to prepare them for college and strengthen knowledge in math, science, reading and writing, as well as the college admissions process.

For more information, please visit the Northwest Indian College website and Facebook Page.

Learn more about the program with this informational brochure.

Contact Information:
Nathanael P. Davis, MES, FYE – Natural Science Instructor
Phone: (360) 392-4271 | E-mailndavis@nwic.edu

Recent Blog Posts

Highlighting Indigenous Innovation on Indigenous Peoples Day 

Highlighting Indigenous Innovation on Indigenous Peoples Day 

This Monday, October 14, marks Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to honor and celebrate the histories and cultures of Native peoples here in the United States. As of last Indigenous Peoples Day in 2023, approximately 195 cities and states recognized the holiday. Here at the American Indian College Fund, we want to take this day to highlight some of the amazing contributions Indigenous peoples have made to the world and share a preview of our upcoming Native American Heritage Month activities. 

American Indian College Fund Launches Virtual Learning Series to Tribal College Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Students

American Indian College Fund Launches Virtual Learning Series to Tribal College Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Students

Two of the American Indian College Fund’s (College Fund) programs are collaborating to launch a new virtual learning series for early childhood educators as well as elementary and secondary educators in Indigenous communities.

American Indian College Fund Celebrates National Transfer Student Week 

To create awareness about how to successfully transfer to a college or university, with opportunities to hear from other Native students who have navigated the process, the American Indian College Fund will host two webinars: Transfer 101 and a Transfer Student Experience panel. Participants will also have access to a transfer process toolbox online. The College Fund is also creating awareness of transfer activities at TCUs by providing $2000 to institutions to assist transfer students by hosting on-campus events, augmenting transfer student resources, or compensating potential transfer student site visits.