Think Indian Community Awareness Grants
Think Indian Community Awareness Grants of $2,500 are available to student groups and accredited higher education institutions. These grants encourage institutions who serve Native students to promote the positive message of “Think Indian,” the vibrancy of Native students, and the highlight the support provided by Native scholarship programs to their campus and community.
“Think Indian” was originally created as a public awareness campaign to promote the American Indian College Fund, and the many ways that its scholars contribute to, and change our world. Its message connected so deeply with Native students and institutions that it was revived in 2018, specifically to promote the College Fund’s scholarship, and other student programs.
The American Indian College Fund has created a grant program to highlight its “Think Indian” campaign, and scholarships program for Native students. The grants are intended to encourage institutions who serve Native students to promote the positive message of “Think Indian,” the vibrancy of Native students, and the highlight the support provided by Native scholarship programs to their campus and community. Projects must engage or include Native students.
Student groups and institutions can use grant funds for any activity or project that will promote the “Think Indian” campaign and scholarships in their community. Programs can include, but are not limited to:
- Informational, social or artistic events
- Art displays, installations or murals
- Music performances or video screenings
- Local awareness, publicity or marketing campaigns
- Online/social media campaigns
- Participation in existing campus or community events
- Themed volunteer or service events (including Native vote or census projects)
CLICK HERE to view summaries of the 2019 awarded projects.
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American Indian College Fund Publishes Tribal College and University Research Journal Volume 7
American Indian College Fund Publishes Tribal College and University Research Journal Volume 7
Focus is Student Support, Academic Outcomes and Diné Educational Philosophy
Denver, Colo., July 16, 2024 —The American Indian College Fund has published Volume 7 of the Tribal College and University Research Journal (TCURJ) featuring articles on a culturally responsive student support model, teachers’ awareness of systemic factors impeding student academic outcomes, and the Diné educational philosophy. The journal is a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary academic publication featuring the research and best practices of tribal college and university faculty and their collaborators.
The College Fund launched the TCURJ in 2016 to support tribal college and university (TCU) faculty in disseminating their research to Indigenous communities and the wider research community. The journal publishes articles from a variety of fields such as environmental science, Indigenous health and wellness, student success, and TCU program development. The Henry Luce Foundation has generously supported publication of the journal since 2018.
All volumes of the TCURJ can be found at https://collegefund.org/research/tcurj/.
About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 34 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $17.4 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2022-23. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $319 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support 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 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.
Journalists — The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund
Still Time to Apply for Federal Financial Aid!
There is still time this summer to submit your application for federal financial aid. Students can receive up to $7,395 for their education per year through the Pell Grant program! Combining scholarships and federal financial aid makes good economic sense. Don’t leave money on the table. For more information and to apply, visit studentaid.gov.
Veteran Student Uses Fellowship to Lead Mental Health Awareness Efforts
“Leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality — Warren Bennis
By Tori Primeaux
On October 30, 2023, I heard about an opportunity through the American Indian College Fund for a fellowship for Native students who are veterans to grow as leaders as they adapt to higher education after military life. The fellowship offered mentorship and training opportunities, as well as resources and tools to strengthen their visions. I was selected with fellow veteran Cynthia Jones to participate, and in November of 2023 began to plan how I would implement my vision of becoming a mental health leader in my community.
Cynthia and I, along with our peer mentor, Kameia, were invited to attend a Women’s Leadership Program and Native Veterans Student Convening in February 2024.There we received information to help me gain a better understanding of how to step into my leadership role. It was astonishing to meet other women who held higher positions in their careers making executive decisions. Those interactions helped to boost my confidence and to allow me to be decisive as I accepted my leadership role. I also realized that Indigenous individuals can fill higher positions The stories other women at the conference shared of building their careers from the ground up influenced me as well. All of these things opened my mind to how I wanted to begin my own leadership journey and incorporate all that I had learned from this experience.
Back home, we met every week from March 15 until April 15 to discuss our plans and how to implement them. I wanted to prioritize mental health and raise awareness of the importance of seeking help, stress management, meditation, and prayer. As a college student who lives on a reservation, I know how mental health is overlooked 80% of the time. Stress is the number one factor that contributes to poor mental health in students with tests, exams, due dates, and other projects alongside maintaining physical health. The reservation is isolated and there are not enough resources there to help Native Americans. It is not easy to attend a gym like one would in a city. There are limited resources, and this is often when drugs are abused to fulfill the urge to be engaged in an activity.
As we continued to plan our event, we gathered information about how to engage with students on campus who deal with this issue. I wanted students to be engaged and want to be involved in gaining a better understanding of how to self-regulate and exercise for their well-being. On April 29, I created a presentation on mental health, sharing facts, such as how to receive help, along with how to spot friends and family who need help but may not know how to ask for it. I asked questions, involved the students, and explained my personal experience to gain trust. I explained how to get help in our community and on campus. I also led a group exercise, and those who participated received gifts and prizes. It was a day that allowed students to be involved and gain recognition for competing in an activity they can continue to use that is not expensive, doesn’t require a car, and costs nothing and can help release negative thoughts. It was a fun day for them to be exposed to tools and valuable information about mental health and to help them understand that mental health is just as important as any other health concern.
Through this opportunity I gained a better understanding of how I will use my degree to help my community and be a voice for those who need help. I learned that to understand a situation you must first put yourself in the position to know what needs to be done. I want to make more resources available and be involved.
As a veteran, I have served my country, and now, I see it as only fair that I serve my community on the reservation. I have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding to take on this role that I now know I can fulfill. The conference sparked a fire in me that I know will soon become a flame that will create a bigger fire within everyone I help. This has been an amazing experience, and I cannot wait to set forth with my commitment.
