The Coca Cola Foundation and the American Indian College Fund honored 33 American Indian scholarship recipients at its 2012-13 Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship banquet at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Sempra Energy has donated $20,000 to the American Indian College Fund (the Fund) to establish the Sempra Energy Tribal Scholarship Program. The grant will support scholarships for American Indian students pursuing degrees in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs at tribal colleges and universities in the Southwestern United States. Students studying engineering and mathematics will receive funding preference.
Phil Jackson sponsors fundraising campaign to raise money for Native scholarships to benefit the Fund–and one lucky donor will get to meet him April 12. The campaign is currently slated to end in March, with a winner being chosen March 27. Airfare and hotel are included in the trip. Donations are not required to enter for a chance to meet Mr. Jackson.
In November I had the opportunity to attend my first professional gathering as the new President of the American Indian College Fund. Combined with my attendance at my first meeting of the Board of the Native Ways Federation during the annual National Congress of American Indian conference in October, this event helped me understand the importance of charitable standards of performance for organizations that are raising money in Indian country.
For me, this time of year means travel. It means recruiting for a program I care deeply about – the University of Colorado Upward Bound Program. My trips begin with a flight to a small town like Durango, Colorado or Fayetteville, North Carolina or in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sometimes I fly all day just to end up on a little commuter plane with two-seats on each side of the aisle, and fly through turbulence to land in a different place in a new state.
Native American Heritage Month is a great time to show your support for Native American students in higher education. We invite you to share in the celebration and learn more about Indian Country with the fun articles, activities and blogs we have planned this month. We hope that you will visit our blog regularly to hear from our guest writers who all bring their unique Native perspective for your enjoyment and enlightenment.
Ford Motor Company Fund has renewed a $50,000 grant to the American Indian College Fund for the Ford Motor Company Blue Oval Scholars Program. Ten tribal college scholarships and five mainstream university scholarships at $3,000 each are available for Native students studying science, technology, engineering, math, or business. All applicants must have a 3.0 grade point average.
Being in the same room as the nominees for President of the United States, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Many of us have traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit Congress and federal agencies and never get to see the President. Many of us attend rallies for one of the candidates but rarely get to see the two nominees in the same room.
Last week I accompanied five American Indian College Fund Scholars to the United Health Foundation’s Annual Diverse Scholars Forum in Washington, D.C. These students have been supported by the United Health Foundation with scholarships to pursue degrees ranging from physical therapy and exercise science to nursing and health occupations.
Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) granted $50,000 to the American Indian College Fund to continue the Nissan Corporate Scholars Program. The program has provided scholarships to Native scholars attending tribal colleges and mainstream universities for more than a decade.
