Scholarships

Please read all information carefully. Applications for the 2008-2009 school year will be accepted between April 21 and July 1st only. Application packages must be received in our Rockville office by 5:00 pm Eastern time on July 1st.

Scholarships

Since 1922, the Association on American Indian Affairs has been dedicated to helping Native people and their communities in meeting the challenges they face. One of these challenges is that of paying for a higher education. AAIA depends on the generosity of our donors to fund our scholarship programs, therefore, availability may change from year to year.

General Information

Send one application package only. Students will be considered for all scholarships we feel you are qualified for.

Please send only the information requested. Additional information will not be considered.

Each application must be mailed in separately. Please do not put applicatons for 2 people in the same envelope.

It is recommended that applicants keep a copy of their application package. Please note that documents cannot be returned.

Please do not call or e-mail the office to verify receipt. (You can send packages through the post office with delivery confirmation for 55 cents if you send the package priority mail, which costs $4.60.)

If you are among the final applicants being considered for a scholarship, a class schedule will be requested prior to final selections.

Scholarships are for full time students from the continental US and Alaska only.

Students are eligible to receive one scholarship per year.

We do not fund technical or trade programs (certificate programs) or seminary.

We do not fund summer session.

If you are awarded a scholarship you will be notified by mail. Decisions are made in August for the entire school year. We try very hard to notify all students prior to Labor Day. Due to the number of applications received, we cannot send regret letters to those students who do not receive scholarships.

Please note that we receive many more applications than we can award. AAIA is a donor based organization. Competition is very high and funding is dependent upon our donors, therefore the number of scholarships awarded from year to year may vary. Prior receipt does not give you priority for the following year.

Scholarship Selection

Graduate students are eligible for three scholarships, the Elizabeth and Sherman Asche Memorial Scholarship, the Florence Young Memorial Scholarship and the Sequoyah Graduate Scholarship. We anticipate awarding 15 graduate scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year.

The Allogan Slagle scholarships are for students from tribes that are not federally recognized. We anticipate awarding 4 Allogan Slagle Scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year.

The David Risling Emergency Aid Scholarships are awarded throughout the regular school year - applications for this scholarship are not considered along with the other scholarship applications during the regular acceptance period. This scholarship is meant for acute, temporary emergencies that arise during the regular school year and would prevent the student from attending school. If there is a question regarding what is or is not considered an emergency, please contact Lisa Wyzlic at our Rockville office.

The Displaced Homemaker Scholarships are for men and women. If there is a question whether you qualify as a displaced homemaker or not, please contact Lisa Wyzlic at our Rockville office. We anticipate awarding 5 Displaced Homemaker Scholarships for the 2008–2009 school year.

The Elizabeth and Sherman Asche Scholarships are for graduate and undergraduate students and is curriculum specific. We anticipate awarding 6 Elizabeth and Sherman Asche Scholarships for the 2008–2009 school year.

The Adolph Van Pelt Scholarships are for undergraduate students in any curriculum. We anticipate awarding 4 new scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year.

The Emilie Hesemeyer Scholarship is a continuing scholarship up to 4 years. Preference is given, but not limited to, students in education fields.

If You Are Selected:

You will be notified by mail.

You are asked to complete a release of information form for AAIA promotional and reporting purposes. A form will be sent with your notification letter. Students are also encouraged to submit a short thank you note and photo.

Your check will be sent directly to your school.

Spring disbursements are only made if students are making satisfactory progress. If a situation arises during the fall semester which would affect your eligibility for spring (illness causing you to miss significant amounts of class time, dropping a class and falling below full time, failing grades at mid-term, etc), contact Lisa Wyzlic immediately. We do not like to discontinue funding unless necessary. We are accountable to the people that fund your scholarships. If we learn of difficulties at the end of the semester when there is less possibility of rectifying the situation your scholarship may be discontinued.

Follow Up:

If you have received an AAIA scholarship in the past 50 years and would be willing to share your story, please contact Lisa Wyzlic at our Rockville office.

Application Check Sheet Explained:

All items listed must be included in your application package otherwise it will not be considered.

Application Form
Financial Need Analysis Form with FAO Signature - Other FNA forms will not be accepted. The completed, signed form must be sent with the rest of the applicants' package. Students are asked to sign the FNA giving permission to allow their FAO to discuss information if the need arises. If we call to verify need and the FAO is not allowed to release the requested information we have no choice but to bypass your application and move on to another student.
Certificate of Indian Blood showing at least ¼ Indian blood - If the applicants' tribal enrollment card/letter shows blood quantum, a CIB is not needed. If it does not, you will need to provide a CIB. If you do not have a CIB, see the FAQ's under the Resources heading of this website to find out how to get one. Do not send your original CIB. Documents cannot be returned.
Proof of Tribal Enrollment - Do not send your original tribal enrollment. Documents cannot be returned. In the case of Alaska tribes, if proof of tribal enrollment is available, that is preferred. If not, alternative forms of proof of such as Alaska Native Corporate documents are acceptable.
Student Essay - Essay must include educational & post graduate goals as well as life experiences. One page minimum, three page maximum, 12 point, at least 1/2 inch margins, single space.
Two Letters of Recommendation - Letters do not have to be confidential and it is preferred that they are not in sealed envelopes. Letters should be from employers, professors, ministers, teachers, coaches, etc. Letters should not be from family or friends. Letters are not to be sent directly to AAIA, they must be included in the application package. Please do not have the original sent directly from the person you requested the recommendation from in addition to the copy included in your package.
Current Financial Aid Award Letter - Financial aid award letters are sent to the student by the school. This document shows the financial aid that the student is eligible for. The student does not have to accept all that is offered, but we do need to see his or her eligibility. This is a different document than the Financial Needs Analysis.
Complete Transcripts - Transcripts do not have to be official. Student copies of official transcripts are acceptable. It is prefered that transcripts are not in sealed envelopes.
Class Schedule - If a schedule is available, please send it. A schedule will be required prior to final selection.
Full Time Enrollment for Graduate Students - Graduate students must provide a letter from the registrars office or a print out from your school's website stating how many credits is considered full time.
Displaced Homemaker Applicants - A short essay of your family responsibilities and monthly budget are required in addition to the basic requirements.
Emergency Aid Applicants - A short explanation of your emergency situation and proof of need are required in addition to the basic requirements.
Number of Credits Needed to be Considered a FR/SOPH/JR/SR -
(for example, 0-30 FR, 31-60 SOPH, 61-90 JR...) from your school website or course catalog.