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College Scholarships

The AIS Scholarship program is to help undergraduate Native American/Alaska Native students with financial support to attend a college or university, maintain enrollment, and graduate. Scholarship Awards are based on up to one-half of tuition and need for the term or academic year the student is applying for and are allocated directly to the school for the student. Students will need to have their own email account in order to apply.

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GUIDELINES​

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TIPS

  • Follow American Indian Services on Facebook or Instagram for program updates

  • Use a personal email address to create an account instead of a school account in case your change schools and get locked out.

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Incomplete applications will not be processed. Late documents will not be accepted. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks AFTER the deadline for applications to be evaluated and updated online. If your application has been approved, your application status will be updated and you will receive a status update email. Students will be required to write a thank you letter if approved, which needs to be submitted by the specified deadline. Scholarship checks will be sent to the school after receipt of thank you letters.

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If you have questions visit our FAQ or contact the AIS Scholarship Department. You can send an email to scholarship@americanindianservices.org or call 801-375-1777 ext. 1002.

Requirements

  • Enrolled or will enroll (as a matriculated student) in a university, college, junior college or trade (technical) school located in the United States (incoming freshman accepted)

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  • An enrolled member of a U.S. Federally Recognized American Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, (Visit here to find out how to contact your tribe, apply for enrollment, and/or apply for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood).

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  • Undergraduate student with no more than 150-semester credits or 210 quarter credits (First bachelor’s degree only, graduate studies NOT eligible)

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  • Full-time or part-time status – excluding non-credit courses, taking a minimum of 6 credits per term

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  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 must be established and maintained after the first semester/quarter of college

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  • Completed Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Requirements

Required Documents

ALL required documents need to be uploaded to the student’s application and are due by the deadline. We are no longer accepting emailed, faxed, or hard copy documents. Late documents/applications will not be accepted. Be sure to request your documents early to avoid missing the deadline.

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  • Photo of the Applicant – Photo needs to be recent. It does not have to be professional, but old, tattered, blurry, filtered photos or a copy of your ID will NOT be accepted. The photo will be sent to potential donors who may fund your scholarship and/or used for marketing purposes. Go here for tips on how to take a great applicant photo.

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  • Proof of Heritage – Proof of Heritage must show that you are either an enrolled member of a Federally Recognized Tribe or you are not enrolled but are a descendant of a base roll member.  If you are not enrolled but are a descendant, you will need to show proof of enrollment and relation. Ask your tribal enrollment office for a statement or you can apply for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood from the BIA. Visit here to find out how to contact your tribe, apply for enrollment, and/or apply for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood.

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  • Essay – The essay will need to be a separate document that you will upload. What’s included:

    • Tell us about yourself - Introduce yourself, include where you are from and/or something special about where you grew up, experiences with your tribe or how it has influenced you, the challenges you've had to overcome to get you where you are today, what you are studying and why, where you see yourself after graduation and how this scholarship will help you.
      You do not have to limit your essay to the above, but it does need to be at least one-page in length, 12-point font, and double-spaced.
       

  • Official Tuition Billing Statement – The tuition statement will need to show your school, your name, and how much tuition is for the number of credits you are taking (or your status: FT or PT) for the term(s) you are applying for. You have the option to either upload this statement yourself or request your school to submit it for you. 

    Below are sample templates the school may use, or they may create their own:

    • Letter of the estimated cost of tuition should state the student's name, the term they are applying for (preferably with the start date), and the estimated cost of tuition for however many credits they plan to take for that term.

    • Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) form in place of a tuition statement. FNA’s for organizations other than the school and AIS will not be accepted.​

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  • Current Transcript (can be unofficial) – DO NOT WAIT for final grades to be posted and submit the most current transcript as of today. You don't need to pay for an official transcript. You can submit an unofficial transcript. High school or GED transcripts are acceptable for incoming freshmen in their first two terms ONLY.

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  • Thank You Letter (only required if your application is approved). Click here for tips on how to write a thank you letter.

Required Documents

Deadlines

We are accepting applications for the Academic Year (under Award III). Be sure to apply for the deadline that corresponds with your school's academic calendar.

January Award | Enrollment Opens: September 1 | Deadline: November 1

If your term starts in December, January, February, or March you would apply for Award.

April Award | Enrollment Opens: January 1 | Deadline: February 1

If your term starts in April or May, you would apply for Award.

June Award | Enrollment Opens: March 1 | Deadline: April 1

If your term starts in June or July, you would apply for Award.

September Award | Enrollment Opens: May 1 | Deadline: July 1

If your term starts in August, September, October, or November you would apply for Award.

Deadlines
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