by Faith Price

 

WSU Native American Programs is now accepting applications for the MOU Tribal Scholarship and Plateau Native American Scholarship for the 2017-18 academic year!

MOU Tribal Scholarship due February 1

Incoming freshmen and transfer students from tribes who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WSU are encouraged to apply for the MOU Tribal Scholarship. Eligible tribes include:  Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Colville Confederated Tribes, Confederated Tribes of the Salish and Kootenai, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Cowlitz Tribe, Kalispel Tribe, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Nez Perce Tribe, Spokane Tribe, Quinault Tribe, and Yakama Nation.  Applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.3 or college GPA of 3.0.

Twenty awards are available at the Pullman Campus and freshmen students will be given priority consideration.   One student will be selected from all applicants to receive a $10,000 per year award.   The remaining rewards will be in the amount of $2,000 per year.  The WSU Tri-Cities and Vancouver campuses also offer two $2,000 MOU Tribal Scholarships on each campus.

Recipients of the WSU Pullman MOU Tribal Scholarship have the additional benefit of being enrolled in WSU’s Tribal Nation Building Leadership Program. This program provides students with leadership skills and knowledge based on tribal principles and values. Participants in the leadership program take specially-designed courses together, interact one-on-one with guest speakers, travel for field trips, and have other unique opportunities.

Plateau Native American Scholarship due February 15

The Plateau Native American Scholarship was developed by a linguist, and is open to students from tribes known as Plateau Salishan, Sahaptian, or Kootenai speakers.  Applicants must be an enrolled member of one of the following tribes:  Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Colville Confederated Tribes, The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Kalispel Tribe, Klamath Tribe, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Nez Perce Tribe, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Yakama Indian Nation.  Enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and of the Cowlitz Tribe who are of Sahaptian-speaking descent are also eligible to apply.

High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75. Transfer and current undergraduate WSU student applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. The amount and number of awards varies.

More Scholarships!

WSU offers additional scholarships specifically targeting Native American students from all tribes. To be considered for them, and over 700 other scholarships, students should complete the WSU General Scholarship application due on January 31 each year.

American Indian Residency Bill

Out-of-state students should check to see if they are eligible for in-state tuition under the American Indian Residency Bill.  Idaho, Montana, and Oregon residents from tribes who had traditional homelands in the state of Washington are eligible for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in the state of Washington.

More information on financing your WSU education is available online at native.wsu.edu. If you have questions, please call or email Faith Price at (509) 335-5849.