Udall Foundation Names Jessica Arkeketa a 2022 Native American Congressional Intern
Denver, Colo., April 13, 2022— Congratulations to Jessica Arkeketa (of the Jiwere Nut’achi (Otoe-Missouria) and Muscogee Creek from Tulsa, Oklahoma), an American Indian College Fund Full Circle scholar who is one of 11 students selected to participate in the Udall Foundation’s class of 2022 as a Congressional intern. The foundation selects interns based on academic achievement, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to careers in Tribal public policy. From 1996 through 2021, 295 students from 131 Tribes have participated in the program.
Jessica says the challenges she faced helped mold who she is today. She first started college eight years ago and was successful both academically and served as a youth delegate for the 2015 White House Congress of American Indians conference. But after time, she says she focused more on her social life than academics and began to feel a bit lost. With the support of family, friends, and her own desire for a brighter future, she gave herself a second chance at education.
Jessica Arkeketa (of the Jiwere Nut’achi (Otoe-Missouria) and Muscogee Creek from Tulsa, Oklahoma), an American Indian College Fund Full Circle scholar and one of 11 students selected to participate in the Udall Foundation’s class of 2022 as a Congressional intern.
Pipestone is a sacred site to many tribal nations and happens to be Jessica’s ancestral homeland. She says, “I found myself spiritually stronger after working at such a sacred site.” In addition to working a demanding job, she continued her education in Native Studies at South Dakota State University. She plans to finish her education there and pursue a leadership career with the National Park Service, using her firsthand experiences along her path to leadership to help others strengthen themselves in mind, body, and spirit, giving them the skills to succeed and build their self-worth and identity.
The Udall Foundation’s Native American Congressional Internship Program, funded and co-managed by NNI, provides Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate, graduate, and law students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with the federal legislative process to understand firsthand the government-to-government relationship between Tribes and the federal government. As a Udall Intern, Jessica will complete an intensive nine-week internship in the summer of 2022 in Washington, D.C.
Congratulations Jessica!
To read more, visit the Udall Foundation website at https://udall.gov/News/NewsAndEvents.aspx?Item=12184.
About the American Indian College Fund—The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 32 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $15.5 million in scholarships and other direct student support to Native American students in 2020-21. Since its founding in 1989, the College Fund has provided more than $259 million in scholarships, programmatic and community support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators and is one of the nation’s top 100 charities named to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.
Photo: Jessica Arkeketa (of the Jiwere Nut’achi (Otoe-Missouria) and Muscogee Creek from Tulsa, Oklahoma), an American Indian College Fund Full Circle scholar and one of 11 students selected to participate in the Udall Foundation’s class of 2022 as a Congressional intern.
Journalists—The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.
