Supporting Native Graduate Students in Education
Education Northwest (ENW) has had the honor of working with many Native educators, students, families, and community members throughout their 51-year history. These partnerships reflect a core value of their organization—the desire to address inequities within our education system and to ensure that all children and youth have the opportunity to reach their full potential. ENW believes that healthy Native communities are essential to the health and well-being of our region, and remain committed to this effort.
The Steven R. Nelson Native Educator Scholarship Program is part of this commitment. This scholarship program strives to increase Native representation in the field of education by providing financial support, mentoring, and internships for Native students in the Northwest who are pursuing a master’s degree in education policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or a closely related field. We view this program as an opportunity to create long-term partnerships that will improve our ability to meet the needs of Native communities.
ENW’s former colleague, Steve Nelson, dedicated his career to working with tribes, communities, and schools to improve American Indian students’ success in academics and in life. This program honors his work by providing selected students with as many as three years of annually renewable scholarships. Awardees will receive a maximum of $5,000 each year, and we will award as many as five scholarships per year—one for a resident of each state in our primary service region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Eligibility Requirements
Individuals need to:
- Reside in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington.
- Be a member or descendent of a federally recognized, state recognized, or terminated American Indian tribe; or Alaska Native village, council, or corporation; or Native Hawaiian; or identify as a Pacific Islander from a U.S.-affiliated Pacific Island jurisdiction (specifically, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, or Palau).
- Be accepted to or enrolled in a master’s program in an accredited, public or private, nonprofit institution of higher education in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington and maintain a course load that ensures graduate degree completion within three years.
- Pursue a field of study in education policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or a closely related field.
- Have graduated from a four-year, regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
- Complete an essay that answers the questions:
- Why am I pursuing a master’s degree in the field of education policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or closely related field?
- What are my post-graduation goals?
- How have I and will I contribute to strengthening my own community and/or rural or Native communities as a whole?
- Submit three letters of recommendation (excluding letters from immediate family members), with at least one from a community member who can attest to the candidate’s Native heritage and his/her commitment to the designated course of study and to serving rural and/or Native communities after attainment of the master’s degree.
- Begin school as a full- or part-time student no later than the fall semester immediately following the award.
Click HERE for more information or to apply.