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COLLEGE NIGHT

VENTURA COUNTY INDIAN EDUCATION CONSORTIUM

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WELCOME

Kate Turek

Education & Career Counselor

SCAIR Inc.

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WHO AM I?

Education & Career Counselor @ SCAIR

(Southern California American Indian Resources) Ventura, CA.

Tribal Affiliation: Tongva, Barbareño/Ventureño Chumash, Kānaka Maoli

Past: I worked as a financial aid counselor, admissions counselor, first generation counselor and career counselor for UC, CSU & Vocational Colleges in Northern California and as a grant/scholarship specialist for a private northern California university.

Today: I support educational and career needs of NA/AN/ NH persons who are low income and state/ federally recognized. I support students in all areas of education. We at SCAIR also provide supportive services to keep up retention and help support students and families.

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YOU PLAN TO GRADUATE SOON… WHAT’S NEXT?

Tribal Colleges & Universities
Native Scholarships
Native Resources

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Important Factors to Consider When Preparing for College

Choosing a College-

In addition to looking at cost, location, programs etc. Assess NA/AN support services, funding, and representation on campus.

Applying for College-

Other than gathering necessary materials for applying, please speak with an advisor about specialized opportunities and services for NA/AN students.

Paying for College-

NA/AN students should explore ALL available options when paying for college. Scholarships for those of color, including specific scholarships for NA/AN students. You may also want to explore TCUs, which often offer tuition waivers and discounts for tribal members.

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Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCU)

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Purpose of a Tribal College or University

COMMUNITY BUILT AROUND NATIVE STUDENTS
DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES
4 AND 2 YEAR PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

List of TCU Locations

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Challenges & Barriers to Success

Representation- Campus representation can lead to greater availability of specialized services & peer support groups. As the most underrepresented student population, NA/AN students may feel isolated, unwelcome, and unsupported.

Financial Challenges- 87% of NA/AN students received grants to fund full-time undergraduate study.

Student Support Services- As one of the smallest racial/ethnic groups, NA/AN often miss out on specialized student services, such as mentorship programs. These provide positive results for participants, but they may be difficult to find. Advisors and support staff may need additional training to better understand the realities faced by historically excluded students in order to support them.

Campus Climate- Underrepresentation and racism on campus can lead to negative experiences for NA/AN college students

Underfunded Schools

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Native Scholarships

Successful keywords for scholarship search. In addition to using Native American, American Indian, Indian, female/male, woman, and minority, students should use these eight master words to help them come up with a list of keywords.

The eight master words are:

1. Honors 2. Awards 3. Clubs 4. Elected positions 5. Appointed positions 6. Work experience 7. Hobbies 8. Your major.

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NA/AN/ NH (Student or 1 parent must be enrolled in a federal or state recognized tribe)
Attending a 2-4 year university/ College or Technical College
Must be enrolled as a full-time student
GPA between 2.0 and 3.5 is desirable, however, ALL current or future undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.
ACT score 14 or above is desirable
Online schools or summer programs are not applicable

Application

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American Indian Scholarship Fund of Southern California

3 letters of recommendation. At least one letter should address your involvement within the Native American Community.
Proof of enrollment at a university/ college in southern California
Proof of tribal enrollment or decent

https://aisfsc.org/

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AAIA- Association of American Indian Affairs

The oldest native scholarship in the country

Enrolled member of a federal or state recognized tribe in continental US and Alaska
Submit copy of tribal enrollment
Registered as a fulltime student
Minimum 2.5 GPA
Submit a current class schedule and transcript
Attend a accredited institution seeking an Associate’s Degree or higher
Provide essays in application which describe the students connection to their tribal nation

Application

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CALEB SCHOLARS PROGRAM

(Undergraduate Level)

Currently enrolled at an accredited university or college
Must have completed at least 36 units (undergraduate)
Full-time status
Minimum GPA of at least 2.5

(Graduate Level)

Full-time status
Minimum GPA of at least 3.0

Application

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The Cobell Scholarship is an annual, non-renewable, and available to any post-secondary (after high school) student who is:

Enrolled member of a US Federally-recognized tribe (or can prove ¼ descent from multiple tribes)
Enrolled in or plans to enroll in full-time study and is degree-seeking
Attending a nationally, regionally and industry accredited non-profit, public and private, institution.

Scholarship Application

Morin and Davis, both seniors and enrolled members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, are part of UND’s Recruitment & Retention of American Indians into Nursing, a program more commonly known by its acronym RAIN.

The pair say they are incredibly grateful for the guidance and dedication of their RAIN mentors Elle Hoselton and Katey Monette.

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Awarded once a year to a NA college and technical students:

All ages, any tribe and in any state who has financial need
Minimum GPA of 3.25
Must be Native American
Proof of tribal membership
Recognized at a state and/or federal level.

Application

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Scholarships are awarded to seniors enrolled in the Indian Education program who plan to attend any college, university, trade or vocational school beginning in the fall of 2024.

Applications (available on the VCIEC website) are due January 31, 2024

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Catching the Dream

NA student who is ¼ or more American Indian
Enrolled member of a federal, state or terminated tribe
Full-time student, seeking a Bachelors or higher degree
Must have applied to as many scholarships/grants as possible!

Application

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Native Resources CCC

American River College (Sacramento CA)- Native American Resource Center, Office of tribal Relations, Elder in Residence Program, NA Faculty & Staff
Mendocino College (Ukiah CA)- Native American Student Resource Center, Native American Peer Mentor Program, NA Club, Pomo Pathways (Free supplies, tutoring etc),
Sierra College (Rocklin CA)- Wynoti Program (, Native American & Pacific Islander Club (NAPI), Native American Club, NA Focused Courses, NA Community Resource Page

4. Kumeyaay Community College (San Diego CA)- NA Faculty & Staff, Kumeyaay Culture & language ONLY

5. Fresno City College (Fresno CA)- Resources for American Indian Needs (RAIN), Native Youth Summit & Powwow, American Indian Studies

6. California Indian Nations College (CINC) (Palm Desert CA) (TCU)- NA Faculty & Staff, NA Languages

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Native Resources CSU

CSU San Bernardino- NA Resource Center & Scholarship

CSU Dominguez Hills- NA Resource Center

CSU Northridge- Minor in NA Studies

Sacramento State University-Minor in NA Studies & Native Scholars Transition Program

CSU Long Beach- NA Resource Guide & American Indian Student Services Center

CSU Fresno- Minor in NA Studies & Fresno State NA Faculty and Staff

San Jose State University- Minor in NA Studies & Diversity Center

CSU East Bay- Minor in NA Studies

Cal Poly Humboldt- NA Resource Center (ITEPP) & Minor In NA Studies

CSU Chico- NA Tribal Resource Center & Diversity Center, NA Graduation Celebration, NA Faculty & Staff, Office of Tribal Relations, Native American Club

Sonoma State University- Minor in NA Studies

San Diego State university- Major or Minor in NA Studies & Native Resource Center

San Francisco State University- Minor in NA Studies & Metro College Success Program

CSU San Marcos- Minor in NA Studies & Cultural Resource Center

CSU Channel Islands- American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES), NA Congressional Internship Program, National Indigenous Student Internship Program

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Native Resources UC

UC Berkeley- AMERICAN INDIAN GRADUATE PROGRAM- Indigenous & Native Coalition-Recruitment Center, NA staff Council, NA Student Development Office & NA Studies

UC DAVIS- American Indian Faculty & Staff, American Indian Recruitment & Retention, NA Student Success Center, NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES (GRADUATE PROGRAM), Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & native Americans in Science

UC Irvine- NA faculty & Staff, NA Resource Guide, NA Studies (Minor)

UC Los Angeles- American indian Student Organization, American Indian Studies Center, Retention of American Indians Now (RAIN)

UC Santa Barbara - American Indian & Indigenous Studies (Minor), American Indian Community Resource Guide, American Indian Cultural Resource Center

UC Merced - Native and Indigenous Student Coalition, Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science

UC Riverside - American Indian Outreach, California Center for Native Nations, California Indian Nations College, NA Student Programs, NA Studies

UC San Diego - American Indian Faculty & Staff Association, Association of NA Medical Students, Intertribal Resource Center, Native American Council, Tribal Health at UCSD School of Medicine, Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & NA in Science

UC San Francisco- Association of Native American Medical Students

UC Santa Cruz -American Indian Resource Center (AIRC), Native Faculty List, Student Life Center

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Out-of-State & Private

University of Arizona- Native American Student Affairs, Native SOAR (Mentoring), Native American Science and Engineering Program, Indigicat Student Organization, Alpha Pi Omega- Indigenous Women's Sorority, Native American Law Student Association, TOSA Tohono O'odham Student Association, NA Staff and Faculty

Colorado State University- NACC-Native American Cultural Center, NA/AN Faculty and Staff, Eagle Feather Tutoring Program, NA/AN Peer Mentoring Program, Women's Circle, All Nations leadership Retreat, NA Student Association, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Native American Legacy Award, Native Students in Science Scholarship, NA Faculty & Staff

Oregon State University- Indigenous living learning Community, Indigenous Student Success Center, Indigenous Student Mental health & Wellness, Talking Circle, Many Scholarships and Oregon Tribal Grant (Open to Oregon State Tribal Members)

Washington State University- Native American Student Center, American Indian Residency Bill, Multicultural Student Mentoring Program, NA Graduate Student Center, Tribal Nation Building Leadership Program, FIRST NA Sorority, AISES- American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Ku-Ah-Mah, NAWA- Native American Women's Association, Wazzu Singers & 7 WSU Scholarships for NA students

Dartmouth College- Native & Indigenous Pre-Orientation, NA/AN Student Peer Advisors, NA/AN Tutors

University of Minnesota Morris-Native American Promise Tuition Program, COIN-Circle of Indigenous Nations, AICC- American Indian Cultural Center, MCAE- Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence, MCSE- Multicultural Student Engagement, Ojibwe Immersion House, American Indian Cultural House, American Indian Studies, NA/AN Faculty and Staff

University of Alaska- Fairbanks- Alaska Native Studies, Tribal Justice, Tribal Governance, Yu’pik Language and Culture, Native Alaskan Staff and Faculty

Colorado State University-

Native American legacy Award- ( This award means your non-resident tuition will be reduced to Colorado resident base tuition.)

Registered citizens of a state or federally recognized tribe OR be able to prove a parent is a registered member of a state or federally recognized tribe*

Non-residents of Colorado
Seeking a degree on CSU’s main campus (CSU Online students are not eligible)
Able to attend the Community for Excellence (C4E) Fall Academic Summit (Details will be sent after you are granted an award.)

* Students who are not enrolled in a tribe, and who do not have a parent enrolled in a tribe, may qualify if they demonstrate a blood quantum of one-half Native American ancestry. This quantum must not necessarily be of one tribe, but of all tribes combined, from recognized tribes under this policy. Typically this is shown with evidence of parents’ certificates of Indian blood.

OSU:

Indigenous living learning community- residential space for students to find community, explore cultural identity and learn more about the lands on which they will be residing. This community offers connections to other students with a shared interest in centering Indigenous people, to cultural events on campus and to resources to help support students while they are at Oregon State

Oregon tribal Grant:

You must be an enrolled member of one of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon:

Burns Paiute Tribe
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Coquille Indian Tribe
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Klamath Tribe

You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student at an Oregon college or university. Eligible schools can include:

Oregon community colleges
Oregon public universities
Oregon based private non-profit colleges and universities

Complete the Oregon Tribal Student Grant application by the deadline
Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA
You must be enrolled at least half time for the 2023-24 academic year
You must maintain good standing in a degree seeking program
You must be working towards earning a first degree or credential at the current level:

If you are working toward your first associate, bachelor, or graduate degree you would be eligible, including students who have earned an associate degree and are working on their first bachelor degree.
If you have already earned your bachelor's degree, you would not be eligible for the grant if you are working towards an associate or second bachelor's degree, or an undergraduate certificate.

Washington State- American indian Residency Bill- Students must have lived in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington for one year immediately prior to enrolling in college.

Students must be members of federally-recognized Indian tribes whose traditional tribal boundaries included portions of the state of Washington, or whose tribe was granted reserved lands within the state of Washington.

Tribal nation building leadership-

Ku-ah-Mah: supports many cultural and social events throughout the school year

Wazu Singers- Drum Group

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Kate Turek

(SCAIR Inc.) Education & Career Counselor

Google # 805-651-3137

Office # 805-765-6243

Email: kate@scairinc.org