Short Answer Questions
Tips for The Full Circle and TCU Scholarship applications
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.
Related Pages
Students Social Media
News & Events
The First Amendment and the Right to Wear Regalia
Most people say, “I know my rights.” How well do you know yours?
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and expression without interference from “state action.” This means Congress and other state or local government entities cannot pass laws establishing religion or infringing upon freedom of speech.
There is First Amendment protection for one’s speech in places like public schools, with public employers, etc. There is no right to free speech when it comes to private entities, such as private employers, except for when they accept taxpayer funding (such as federal grants).
Fundamental rights are federally applied through the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause and at the state level through the 14th Amendment. This means students attending a state college or university have free speech rights, because the 14th Amendment applies the First Amendment to those institutions.
What Does the First Amendment Guarantee?
The verbiage of the First Amendment is as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
There are entire courses of study focused on the First Amendment, but for we will examine the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and free exercise of religion in the context of how it applies to Native students’ right to wear regalia at graduation ceremonies.
Speech is defined as the right to expression (including the right to speak, not to speak, to display political or other slogans on t-shirts, bumper stickers, to wear religious medals as an expression of one’s faith, and clothing such as tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies as an expression of one’s culture, and more). First Amendment rights of speech are limited, but there are guardrails on how governments can curtail them.
The First Amendment also prohibits the establishment of state-sponsored religion (called the establishment clause) and prohibitions of the free exercise of religion (called the free exercise clause), which can include wearing religious or spiritual clothing, jewelry, hairstyles, or other ornamentation.
Regulations must meet the “strict scrutiny” test applied to fundamental rights: any government regulation must be necessary and meet a compelling government interest. The regulation cannot be vague (with no clear prohibition of conduct) or overbroad (the regulation cannot substantially burden more speech than necessary to meet a compelling government interest. A compelling interest can be defined as ensuring public safety from violence, for example).
Wearing tribal regalia is a fundamental right Protected by the First Amendment and some state laws, meaning Indigenous students have the legal right to wear tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies at public schools.
Yet even with legal protection, some schools prohibit Indigenous students from wearing their regalia or traditional clothing using dress codes as a pretext.
Native students should know the right to wear tribal regalia is legally protected in two ways: under federal law by the First Amendment and in many states by state laws.
Federal Law
Under the First Amendment, Native students wearing regalia at graduation is considered both protected free speech and a matter of religious freedom (free exercise of religious beliefs). For Native students, wearing an eagle feather or beadwork has both cultural and spiritual significance.
This is particularly significant because during the boarding school era in the United States, which spanned from the mid-17th to the early 20th centuries, Native children were prohibited from wearing their regalia, practicing their religions and traditions, and speaking their languages as part of missionaries’ and the government’s attempts to forcibly assimilate them into Anglo-American culture. Wearing regalia at graduation is a way for Native students and their families to not only celebrate a student’s achievement, but a way for families and communities (who worked together to create the regalia) to honor their graduates’ achievements—while celebrating their cultures.
For the purposes of the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and expression, regalia is protected symbolic speech as a representation of a student’s culture and beliefs.
And because the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause protects wearing regalia, denying students the right to wear it under the guise of enforcing a dress code may violate students’ Constitutional rights. Federal cases often turn on whether other students are permitted to decorate mortarboards, wear honor cords, and more.
The American Civil Liberties Union notes that school prohibitions against wearing regalia can violate federal laws against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or national origin (Title VI).
State Laws
Students seeking to wear beadwork or an eagle feather on their graduation caps, traditional moccasins and leggings, and traditional hairstyles are protected by the right to do so both afforded by both the U.S. Constitution and state laws enacted in many states.
Ensuring Your Right to Wear Your Right to Wear Regalia Entails Proactive Communication
To ensure your rights are upheld on graduation day without incident, the American Indian College Fund urges students to be proactive and to work with school administrations far in advance of graduation to ensure their graduation celebration is observed in a traditional and meaningful way without incident.
Following are guidelines adapted from the Native American Rights Foundation on how to notify school officials of your intent to wear regalia on graduation day. The sooner you communicate your plan to participate in your graduation ceremony in a cultural way with school administrators, the fewer snags you will encounter along the way.
You will want to research your school policy regarding wearing Native American regalia at graduation.
If your institution has a strict graduation dress code, write a letter explaining the spiritual and cultural significance of wearing regalia in a letter to the school board and administrative leadership at your school.
For detailed information, check out the following resources about your right to wear regalia at graduation.
- NARF Brochure: Wearing Eagle Feathers at Graduation: A Guide for Students,
- NARF Brochure: Wearing Eagle Feathers at Graduation: A Guide for Schools
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) details about your U.S. Constitutional Rights: Your Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia
Finally, congratulations on your upcoming graduation and this great achievement!
Below is a downloadable resource we’ve created to help provide guidance for students who want to wear regalia at their graduation:
Proposed Federal Budget Would Eliminate All Dedicated Tribal College and University Funding, Could Shutter All Institutions in One Year
Proposed Federal Budget Would Eliminate All Dedicated Tribal College and University Funding, Could Shutter All Institutions in One Year
April 28, 2026, Denver, Colo.– The 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) serving Native American students across the country could collectively face crippling federal budget cuts in the coming 2027 fiscal year through the Trump Administration’s proposed budget. The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) shares the concerns of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) that the Department of the Interior’s proposal to eliminate all dedicated TCU funding does not align with the Administration’s stated priorities to support rural America and expand access to higher education for the second year in a row.
Tribal colleges and universities are essential to providing education, workforce training, and economic growth in some of the most rural and underserved regions of the country. TCUs change the lives of their students, who see a 27.2. percent average annual return on their education investment by attending. More than 74% of TCU students graduate and work in their communities, according to College Fund data. That impact adds up. According to the AIHEC National TCU EIS Report, in FY 2022-2023 alone, TCUs generated $3.8 billion in economic growth for the United States and supported more than 40,700 jobs across key sectors, including healthcare, government, retail, and professional services.
Every federal dollar invested in TCUs returns $1.60 in tax revenue, demonstrating the efficiency and impact of this investment.
Despite these contributions to rural and tribal communities and students, the Department of the Interior (DOI) continues to fall short in its support for TCUs. The College Fund and AIHEC believe eliminating TCU funding does not represent meaningful federal savings; it merely removes a relatively small investment that delivers outsized economic and community impact. In addition, this continued underinvestment undermines both the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Native people and Nations.
The proposed 2027 budget aims to eliminate or drastically reduce funding for all TCUs, including tribally chartered institutions, the two Bureau of Indian Education schools (Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in New Mexico), and the Institute of American Indian Arts, which became a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization in 1986, functioning similarly to the Smithsonian Institution. Most TCUs are located on or near Indian reservations in rural communities.
Ahniwake Rose, President of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, which represents the interests of tribal colleges and universities in Washington, D.C., told the Associated Press, “If this budget was to pass, our TCUs would be forced to close within a year.”
“We cannot allow TCUs to disappear. They are lifelines of learning for entire generations, providing place and culturally based learning in Indian Country and surrounding rural communities that propels students to succeed, graduate, and lead,” said Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund. “Rural and Native communities are unlike those in other areas, and the education TCUs offer is perfectly tailored for the career and service needs of their communities.”
Both the College Fund and AIHEC believe consistent and robust funding across agencies is essential to ensuring tribal students and communities are not left behind. To advance opportunity in rural America, TCUs must be treated as a central investment priority in the President’s Budget.
In addition to funding cuts for TCUs, the Trump Administration’s budget would also carve billions of dollars out of programs that fulfill trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations.
About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 37 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided more than $23 million in scholarships and other student support for higher education in 2024-25. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $391 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of programs at the nation’s 34 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. It earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (Guidestar), and the “Best in America Seal of Excellence” from the Independent Charities of America. The College Fund was also named as one of the nation’s top 100 charities to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit collegefund.org.
Journalists: The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference please use the College Fund.
Why Voting is Important in Native Communities
By Simone Friede (Chippewa Cree), Stone Child College
Voting is a fundamental pillar of democracy, serving as a powerful tool for individuals to express their beliefs, values, and aspirations for their communities. In Native American communities, this right holds immense significance, not just as a means of participation in broader electoral processes but also as a vital expression of cultural identity and self-determination.
For many Native American tribes, voting has been fraught with historical injustices. Prior to the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, Native Americans were largely excluded from the electoral process. Even after being granted citizenship, many states found ways to circumvent these rights through legal loopholes that imposed various restrictions. It wasn’t until the 1975 Voting Rights Act amendments that sufficient measures were put in place to protect the voting rights of Native Americans and ensure accessibility at the polls.
Despite these developments, political participation remains a challenge in many tribes. Issues such as mistrust in the government, inadequate resources, and lack of representation often impede the engagement of Native voters. However, in recent years, awareness and initiatives aimed at empowering our communities have gained momentum.
In Native American communities, voting is not simply about electing leaders; it is a means of reclaiming agency and addressing pressing issues that disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples. Geographic isolation, limited access to voting locations, and language barriers can pose significant challenges. However, when Native Americans engage in the electoral process, they can influence policies regarding land rights, healthcare, education, and sovereignty.
Voting empowers Native communities to advocate for their unique needs and priorities, allowing them to bring attention to long-standing issues such as environmental justice, economic development, and cultural preservation. It serves as a critical pathway toward self-governance and helps restore the voice and agency that many feel has been historically marginalized.
For many Native Americans, democracy resonates deeply with traditional governance practices. Tribal governance emphasizes consensus-building, communal decision-making, and respect for community needs. This perspective on democracy reflects values that may differ from conventional Western ideals, encompassing a holistic approach that prioritizes the welfare of the collective over individual interests.
Furthermore, democracy is intertwined with cultural identity and spirituality. Voting is seen as an act of honoring ancestors who fought for these rights and a way to ensure a brighter future for subsequent generations. By participating in elections, Native Americans are not just asserting their rights but also reaffirming their identity, history, and connection to the land.
Increasing voter turnout in Native American communities requires targeted efforts to bridge gaps in understanding and accessibility. Initiatives aimed at civic education, awareness campaigns, and grassroots organizing can empower individuals to appreciate the importance of their vote. Collaborating with local organizations to provide transportation to polling places, ensuring language assistance, and addressing misinformation can significantly enhance participation.
Moreover, amplifying the voices of Native leaders and activists helps inspire younger generations and fosters a sense of pride and responsibility in civic engagement. When the narratives of Indigenous peoples are included in political discourse, they contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of democracy itself—one that is inclusive and representative of all voices.
The act of voting in Native American communities transcends the mere act of casting a ballot; it embodies the struggle for recognition, respect, and representation. By honoring the unique perspectives on democracy held by Indigenous peoples and actively participating in the electoral process, we can work towards a more just and equitable society. Encouraging active citizenship among Native Americans not only empowers these communities but also enriches the democratic fabric of our nation, ultimately benefiting us all.