Short Answer Questions

Tips for The Full Circle and TCU Scholarship applications

The Full Circle and TCU Scholarship applications have an essay style format with three short-answer questions.

These sections are your chance to share your story and give readers an opportunity to see how a scholarship would help you achieve your stated educational and professional goals and require you to discuss three elements: an obstacle that you have overcome in order to get to where you are now; your educational goals and how this scholarship will help you achieve those; and how your education will help your Native community.

We recommend that you type out your responses to the short-answer question in a Word document (like this template) to ensure safe keeping if you need to abandon the application before submission.

To enhance this section, start by creating an outline of your thoughts and initial answers to each question. The outline does not need to look perfect, but it will allow you to start thinking about and organizing these questions and how they relate to each other.

Here are two sample outlines to help get you started:

  • A Visual Outline for those who prefer to see the outline as part of the big picture.
  • A Textual Outline for those who prefer a more linear approach.
  • Whichever outline you choose, remember that they are not meant to be exhaustive. They are designed to help you organize your thoughts and begin planning for writing your final responses.
  • There is no right or wrong answer for these questions, but it is very important that you provide a thorough response to each short-answer question.

As always, don’t forget to check your grammar and spelling!

NOTE: The short-answer section is ONLY available in the application, not in the profile. This means you must have all of your application ready (INCLUDING YOUR TRANSCRIPT READY TO UPLOAD) when you answer these questions; otherwise your answers will not be saved.

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News & Events

AIHEC CALL TO ACTION!

The American Indian College Fund joins the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s Call to Action in support of this bipartisan, no-cost to taxpayer’s opportunity to further sustain our member Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

The Senate Agriculture Committee will mark up its 2026 Farm Bill Reauthorization on August 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET, creating a critical opportunity to advance long-overdue, no-cost improvements that strengthen and level the playing field for Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) (also known as 1994 land-grant institutions) within the land-grant system.

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is urging Senators to support inclusion of two bipartisan, no-cost priorities that would provide TCUs with greater flexibility to strengthen research, modernize infrastructure, and better serve Tribal communities, without increasing federal spending.

The priorities would:

(1) Allow 1994 land-grant institutions to use Research and Extension Program funds for equipment, facilities, and land acquisition; and

(2) Waive non-federal matching requirements for the Research Facilities Act and New Beginnings for Tribal Students programs.

Institution-specific examples illustrating the local impact of these provisions are available from AIHEC upon request.

For more information, please contact Danelle Springer, AIHEC Federal Relations Associate, at dspringer@aihec.org.

 

Script

“Hello, my name is [NAME], and I am calling on behalf of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

I respectfully ask Senator [NAME] to encourage the Senate Agriculture Committee to include two no-cost priorities for Tribal Colleges and Universities, the nation’s 1994 land-grant institutions, in the 2026 Senate Farm Bill reauthorization.

First, allow 1994 institutions to use Research and Extension program funds for equipment, facilities, and land acquisition.

Second, waive the non-federal match requirements for the 1994 institutions in the Research Facilities Act and the New Beginnings for Tribal Students program.

These provisions require no additional federal funding but will strengthen TCUs’ ability to educate students, conduct research, and serve Tribal communities.

Thank you for your leadership and for supporting Tribal Colleges and Universities.”

Find Your Senators

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Students, Elders, and Community Unite for the Children’s Powwow

By Ashley Hebert, Early Childhood Education Department Chair, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College

KBOCC Children's Pow Wow 2026

Attendees at the Children’s Pow Wow during grand entry.

Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College’s Second Annual Children’s Powwow was a meaningful celebration of culture, community, and learning that brought together children, families, educators, elders, and community members. The event provided an opportunity for young children to experience and participate in cultural traditions while strengthening connections between local early childhood programs, schools, and the community. Through the support of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program and the American Indian College Fund’s Indigenous Early Childhood Education grant, the Children’s Powwow continues to grow as an important community event.

One of the most meaningful aspects of this year’s Children’s Powwow was the opportunity for children to help create their own ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts before the event. ECE students visited participating classrooms and worked with children to personalize their regalia, special ceremonial clothing or items worn or carried by Ojibwe people for important events or as symbols of honor. Each classroom selected its own unique fabric and ribbon colors, ensuring that no two classrooms had the same design. Children were involved in choosing the materials, making the experience meaningful and personal while helping them develop a sense of ownership and pride in their regalia. This process not only built excitement for the powwow but also allowed children to express their individuality while participating in a shared cultural experience.

Three Preprimary children in their regalia at the Children’s Pow Wow at the KBOCC Childrens Pow Wow 2026

Three Preprimary children in their regalia at the Children’s Pow Wow.

Another special component of the powwow was the involvement of elders and community members in helping create ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts for children attending local early childhood programs and centers. Through a series of collaborative gatherings, community members shared their skills, knowledge, and time to ensure children had regalia to wear during the event. These experiences provided opportunities to help preserve and celebrate Anishinaabe traditions.

Early Childhood Education students played a significant role in planning and implementing the Children’s Powwow. Students assisted with organizing activities, coordinating logistics, preparing materials, and supporting families throughout the event. Their involvement provided valuable leadership experience and allowed them to see firsthand the importance of community engagement, cultural responsiveness, and family-centered programming. Students also gained a deeper understanding of how cultural events can support children’s development of identity, sense of belonging, and overall well-being.

Five Keweenaw Bay Indian Community early head start students preparing for the Children’s Pow Wow in their regalia.

Five Keweenaw Bay Indian Community early head start students preparing for the Children’s Pow Wow in their regalia.

The Children’s Powwow was a true community effort that reflected the strength of partnerships between the college, local early childhood programs, families, elders, and community organizations. The event created a welcoming space where children could celebrate their culture, families could connect with one another, and students could apply what they have learned in meaningful ways. As the event continues to grow, it remains an important example of how education, culture, and community can come together to support future generations.

Tell Your Senator to Vote NO on the SAVE Act, a Barrier to Voting Rights 

UPDATE July 22, 2026: By a vote of 216-214, the House has passed H.Con.Res. 113, the initial procedural resolution to proceed with the budget reconciliation bill. The resolution outlines $95 billion in new spending, including $10 billion to advance elements of the anti-voter SAVE America Act. 

The SAVE Act is a proposed law that would require all Americans to provide physical proof of citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—to register to vote. It sounds simple but is creating a voting rights crisis for Native Americans. 

Why? 

The SAVE Act requires Tribal IDs to list a “place of birth” to be valid. Most Tribal IDs don’t include this, rendering them useless for registration without a secondary document, like a birth certificate or passport. But for Native voters who are often born at home or who have to travel great distances to get them, often as far as 100 miles during working hours, the extra requirement of a birth certificate is a major hurdle. Similarly, passports are expensive and require birth certificates to obtain. This requirement creates an unfair barrier to voting—a fundamental right. 

Legislation that ignores the geographic, sovereign, and administrative realities of Indian Country is about exclusion, not security. Democracy only works when everyone is allowed to participate.

📞 Contact your Senators today. Tell them to vote NO on the SAVE Act – Budget Reconciliation must not include any aspect of the SAVE Act. House Republicans are explicitly attempting to wedge pieces of the SAVE America Act into a third budget reconciliation package to skirt the Senate filibuster and push federal money to states that adopt voter-ID and proof-of-citizenship rules.  

PLEASE ACT TODAY 

  1. Call your elected senators at their Congressional Offices and ask for their Legislative Director. To find your representative and senators, use the USA Gov tool. 
  2. Use this script for each call: 

Hello, my name is (blank). My zip code is (tell them your zip code). I am calling to urge my senator to oppose the House-passed SAVE America Act, which would enact unnecessary barriers to voter registration and would disenfranchise countless voters, Including American Indian and Alaska Natives, women, senior citizens, and low-income citizens. This bill is designed to block voters from access to a fundamental right in our democracy WITHOUT evidence of widespread voter fraud. 

Thank you for your time! 

IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.