American Indian College Fund Receives $155,000 Grant

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Teacher Prep

DENVER - For the fourth year, the American Indian College Fund has received a grant from the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation to support Native higher education. The award was $155,000 for Native student scholarships.

Ten Native Teacher Preparation Scholarships will be awarded under the program for $4,000 each. To qualify, students must be American Indians attending a tribal college and studying to be a teacher or education paraprofessional.

Ten Skills Development Scholarships will also be awarded for $4,000 each. To qualify, students must be American Indian and enrolled in a building trade curriculum or vocational/career program, such as heavy equipment operation, welding, hazardous waste technician, highway construction, electrician, or plumbing coursework at a tribal college.

These programs will continue to provide scholarships to American Indian students enrolled full-time in an associate's degree program at one of the following tribal colleges and universities: Diné College, Navajo Technical College, Oglala Lakota College, Sinte Gleska University, and Sisseton Wahpeton College. Recipients must also demonstrate financial need and be a single parent and/or in their first year of an associate's degree program.

From the grant, the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation will also continue to support 15 Achieving the Dream Scholarships in 2011-12 for American Indian students who are single parents and/or in the first year of an associate's degree program for $4,000 each. Students must be American Indian and enrolled in Diné College, Navajo Technical College, Sisseton Wahpeton College, Sinte Gleska University, or Oglala Lakota College to qualify. The foundation has also pledged its continued support to continue the program for three years.

"We have expanded our support of the American Indian College Fund this year to help American Indian students pursue teacher-preparation and skills-development programs that will have a direct positive impact on the students' communities," said Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation Foundation Chairman Nicholas A. Bumbacco. "At the same time, we have also increased the level of financial support for students who receive Achieving the Dream Scholarships. We feel fortunate that we can work with an organization of the caliber of the AICF to help American Indian students improve themselves and the future of their families and communities."

"The generous and long-time support from the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation has helped many people in the American Indian community obtain a higher education," said Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund. "This substantial gift and pledged support for the future will continue Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company's legacy as a supporter of Native education and a company that is working to create hope and a better life for American Indian people."

posted August 2, 2011 6:00 am edt