COBELL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP (http://www.collegefund.org/Cobell) 1. What is the Indian Education Scholarship Holding Fund? The $60 million holding fund for the Indian Education Scholarship Holding Fund was designated as part of the $3.4 billion Cobell settlement through the vision and leadership of the late Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Mrs. Cobell initiated a class action lawsuit in 1996 on behalf of American Indians whose trust land funds had been mismanaged by the federal government on behalf of individual Indian land owners for decades. Before her passing, Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the case, said the set-aside of funds from the settlement for higher education would “mean a great deal… to the Indian youth whose dreams for a better life including the possibility of one day attending college can now be realized.” For detailed information about the settlement and the land buyback program that will fund the Cobell Scholarships, visit http://www.indiantrust.com/ 2. Who Will Administer the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund? The Cobell v. Salazar settlement agreement provides that a qualified non-profit organization would be selected to administer the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund. The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund) was named by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the plaintiffs of Cobell v. Salazar to administer the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund. In addition, the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) was named by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the plaintiffs of Cobell v. Salazar to distribute graduate student scholarships. Graduate student scholarships will comprise 20% of the annual awards.
3. Who Is the American Indian College Fund? The American Indian College Fund is the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships for American Indian students. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the College Fund has been “Educating the Mind and Spirit” of American Indian and Alaska Native people for nearly 25 years and provides an average of 6,000 scholarships annually. The College Fund also supports the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities located on or near Indian reservations. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. For more information, please visit www.collegefund.org. The College Fund is not organizationally affiliated with the AIGC or any individual college or university. 4. Who Is the American Indian Graduate Center? The American Indian Graduate Center is a national, non-profit scholarship administrator located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and operates under Director P. Sam Deloria. For
more than 40 years, AIGC has awarded scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Natives who are pursuing masters, doctoral and professional degrees from accredited colleges and universities throughout the nation. AIGC has awarded over 16,000 scholarships totaling more than $46 million to graduate students from federally recognized tribes across the United States. For more information go to www.aigc.org. The AIGC is not organizationally affiliated with the College Fund or any individual college or university. AIGC is affiliated with AIGC Scholars, a separately managed nonprofit that was incorporated in 2001 to be the American Indian and Alaskan Native partner in the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. 5. What Types of Education Can the Scholarship Monies Fund? Cobell Scholarships can be used by students who attend accredited institutions in the U.S. that grant career and technical education certificates or bachelor’s degrees. A portion of the annual scholarships, 20%, will be used for students who are pursuing graduate or professional degrees at an accredited U.S. institution. 6. When Will Cobell Scholarships Be Available? Provided that funds are disbursed to the College Fund and AIGC from the land buy-back incentives, the first Cobell Scholarships will be available for the Fall 2014 school year. 7. Who Qualifies for Cobell Scholarships? The following criteria are currently required to be eligible for a scholarship. Additional criteria may be established by the Cobell Board of Trustees at its discretion. a. Through the American Indian College Fund: Any citizen of a federally recognized tribe or a direct descendant (one or both parents enrolled) Enrolled in an accredited, U.S. institution that awards graduating students either bachelor’s degrees or career and technical certificate. b. Through the American Indian Graduate Center: Pursuing a post-baccalaureate graduate or professional degree as a full-time degree-seeking student at an accredited institution in the U.S.; Able to demonstrate financial need through submission of the AIGC Financial Need Form (FNF), and; An enrolled member of a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native group, or provide documentation of descent (possess one-fourth degree verifiable federally recognized American Indian blood) as verified through submission of a Tribal Eligibility Certificate (TEC). IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS REGARDING THE CRITERIA FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF COBELL SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDS, YOU MAY DO SO FROM APRIL 3, 2014-MAY 2, 2014 AT COLLEGEFUND.ORG/COBELL.
8. Are There Any Special Eligibility Criteria Requirements to Be Eligible or More Competitive for the Cobell Scholarship? Not at this time, although there is a possibility that additional criteria could be added by the Cobell Trust Board prior to the awarding process. 9. When and Where Can I Apply for Scholarships? Students attending an accredited, U.S. institution that awards graduating students either bachelor’s degrees or career and technical certificate: Apply online using the Full Circle Scholarship application at the American Indian College Fund web site at www.collegefund.org/scholarships beginning April 10, 2014. If you have already completed a Full Circle Scholarship application, you will be considered for the Cobell Scholarship. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2014.
Students pursuing a post-baccalaureate graduate or professional degree as a full-time degree-seeking student at an accredited institution in the U.S.: Apply online using The AICG Fellowship application at the American Indian Graduate Center web site (select Apply Now on any page) beginning April 10, 2014. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2014.
10. How Many Scholarships Will Be Awarded from the Cobell Trust and What Will Be the Amount of the Scholarships? That decision is not finalized as we await the final dollar amount of scholarship funds that will be available for academic year 2014-15. Please continue to check both the American Indian College Fund and American Indian Graduate Center web site for updates. 11. How Often Can I Apply? You can apply for Cobell Scholarships annually. 12. Will There Be a Cobell Scholarship Endowment? The Cobell Board of Trustees may establish an endowment. If this occurs, proceeds or interest from an endowment would then be used for scholarships. 13. The Cobell Board of Trustees The Cobell Board of Trustees will approve and monitor the scholarship distribution policy and program administered by the College Fund. As part of their duties, the Cobell Board of Trustees will approve and monitor Cobell investments managed by the College Fund. Members of the Cobell Board of Trustees Include: College Fund Representative: Carla Fredericks, Three Affiliated Tribes Plaintiffs’ Representatives:
Turk Cobell, Blackfeet Alex Pearl, Chickasaw
Department of Interior Representatives Pam Agoyo, Cochiti, Kewa, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos Jean O’Brien, White Earth Ojibwe 14. Who Do I Contact If I Have Questions About the Cobell Scholarships? The Cobell Scholarships web site is currently under construction. For more information go to the Cobell landing page at collegefund.org/cobell. You may also send an e-mail to: American Indian College Fund scholarships@collegefund.org
American Indian Graduate Center fellowships@aigcs.org