Native Forward Scholarship Fund: Eligibility and Opportunities for Native Students

The Native Forward Scholars Fund offers numerous scholarships and fellowships to support Native American students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Recognizing the disparities faced by Native students, particularly in STEM fields, Native Forward aims to bridge the gap between Native communities and science, empowering students to solve problems within Indian Country.

Overview of Native Forward Scholars Fund

Native Forward Scholars Fund offers more than 30 scholarships and fellowships that fund undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree-seeking students. These scholarships provide essential financial assistance, nurturing the development of Native scholars. The fund utilizes an online application system for submitting required documents, streamlining the process for applicants. Due to the high volume of submissions, applicants are encouraged to check the status of their files and documents through the online portal.

General Eligibility Requirements

While each scholarship opportunity has specific tribal eligibility requirements, some general requirements apply to most Native Forward scholarships:

Financial Needs Form (FNF): All applicants must submit a Financial Needs Form (FNF) by July 15 for each academic year.
FAFSA: Students are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year.
Federal Financial Aid Eligibility: In addition, students must be eligible to receive federal financial aid. Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office.
Completed Application: Native Forward is not able to determine eligibility without a completed application. Eligibility determinations are based on responses from completed applications.
Accredited Institution: Students must be enrolled in an accredited institution. If a student fails a class or drops below full-time status, they must notify Native Forward Scholars Fund immediately.

Scholarship Stacking Policy

Native Forward Scholars Fund has a specific policy regarding stacking scholarships. Students are prohibited from stacking Native Forward Scholars Fund federally funded program awards. In such cases, students can only accept ONE Native Forward federally funded award offer, which includes the Science Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund (SPGSF), Loan for Service Program (LFS), and the Special Higher Education Program (SHEP). However, students are allowed to stack pooled or endowed scholarships to help lower the amount they need to pay for college. For example, a student can accept an award offer from Native Forward BIE-Science Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund and another offer from Native Forward Wells Fargo Undergraduate Scholarship Fund to cover a student’s remaining unmet needs. Students are encouraged to apply for as many Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarships as possible, as winning multiple scholarships is an effective solution for affording college.

Featured Scholarship Opportunities

Native Forward Scholars Fund offers a variety of scholarship opportunities with unique eligibility requirements and deadlines. Here's a glimpse of some notable scholarships:

Read also: Investing in Native Education

Kenneth L. Proulx Memorial Essay Contest for Ongoing College Students

Deadline: June 1, 2025
Eligibility: Open to all ongoing undergraduate college students up to age 24 already attending a North American college or university. Students graduating by spring or summer of 2025 are still eligible.

Native Forward Scholars Fund 2025-2026

Deadline: June 1, 2025
Eligibility: This is the application for all Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities for the 2025-2026 academic year. Submitting this application will consider you for all academic year scholarships that you are eligible for.

Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: June 5, 2025
Eligibility: New Mexico graduating high school seniors and/or continuing college students pursuing a degree or certificate from a nonprofit or public school or an automotive or technical vocational institution, including community colleges. Students may attend school full or part-time.

David R. Woodling Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: June 5, 2025
Eligibility: Students attending an accredited nonprofit or public educational institution in pursuit of a certificate or degree in a metals technology program with a concentration in machine tool technology and welding.

Rae Lee Siporin Scholarship for Women

Deadline: June 5, 2025
Eligibility: Women who are continuing or returning to college/university for their first undergraduate degree and need financial assistance for their senior year of school. Preference will be given to women who have dropped out and are returning to finish their degree.

Sussman-Miller Educational Assistance Fund

Deadline: June 5, 2025
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who will attend a New Mexico public college/university and any student already attending college in or out-of-state who need financial assistance to address the ‘gap’ in financial aid packages.

The American Advertising Federation - New Mexico (AAF-NM) Scholarship

Deadline: June 5, 2025
Eligibility: Deserving students who intend to enter the advertising profession and are currently maintaining a marketing internship.

Youth in Foster Care Scholarship Program

Deadline: June 5, 2025
Eligibility: Young adults who have been in the New Mexico foster care system who want to develop a marketable skill or continue their education at a post-secondary school.

The Father James B Macelwane Annual Award in Meteorology

Deadline: June 13, 2025
Eligibility: Undergraduate students submitting original papers concerned with some phase of the atmospheric sciences. No more than two students from any one institution may enter papers in any one contest. The student must be enrolled as an undergraduate at the time the paper is written,.

Souder Miller & Associates (SMA) STEM Scholarship

Deadline: June 13, 2025
Eligibility: Native American students pursuing a four-year degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, books, or on-campus housing/meals. Automatic renewal for a maximum of four academic years is at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee.

BigSun Scholarship

Deadline: June 19, 2025
Eligibility: High school students or students attending a post-secondary institute who submit a short essay (500-1000 words) answering the given prompt.

Navajo Transitional Energy Company Scholarship

Deadline: June 19, 2025
Eligibility: Navajo students currently enrolled in college and pursuing STEM degrees.

Office of Navajo Nation Scholarships & Financial Assistance (ONNSFA)

Deadline: June 25, 2025
Eligibility: Enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.

Education is Ceremony Collegiate Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2025
Eligibility: Indigenous scholars of all ages pursuing higher education.

Nina J. Wing Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2025
Eligibility: Students previously in foster care who are currently attending or will be attending Central New Mexico Community College.

Theresa A. Mike Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2025
Eligibility: Enrolled members of a Federally Recognized Native American Tribe who are current residents or graduates of a high school located in the Coachella Valley or Morongo Basin, or an employee in good standing, or a dependent of an employee, of any entity within the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.

Washington Media Fellows Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2025
Eligibility: Students pursuing a career in a field related to public policy media strategy, research, and management.

$2,000 Nitro Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2025
Eligibility: Legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and any US Territory age 17 or older at the time of entry, and who meet one (1) of the four (4) following eligibility requirements at the time of entry.

Student Access Funding

Native Forward Scholars Fund recognizes the limited access American Indian and Alaska Native students have regarding graduate entrance and professional examinations, as well as the cost of affording such exams and related preparatory expenses. Native Forward offers the Student Access Funding to help cover the cost of a student’s graduate or professional examination as well as related preparatory expenses.

The Importance of STEM Education

Native Forward Scholars Fund specifically addresses the disparities faced by Native students in STEM fields. By providing financial support and resources, Native Forward empowers students to pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This focus is crucial for enabling Native communities to solve problems and contribute to advancements in these critical areas. One Native Forward scholar shared, "My whole life I really didn’t think that was in the cards for me and Native Forward Scholars Fund believed in me and was able to provide me with the support and the community to be able to study what I wanted and also know that I had a place within the science world."

Additional Information and Contact

For more information, follow-up questions, and to check on the status of your application with any of the opportunities listed above, reach out to the funding organization/company directly.

Read also: Tuition-Free at NAU

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