Scholarships
Native American Studies
Native American Studies is dedicated to promoting high academic achievement among Native American students and assisting them to reach their educational goals. To uphold this objective, scholarships are awarded each year to undergraduate and graduate students in various majors. Native American students are encouraged to apply.
Requirements:
Applicants must be admitted to the University of Montana—Missoula. Returning Students are required to be enrolled full-time. New students will be required to enroll full-time before Autumn Semester. Students must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average to be eligible for a scholarship. Scholarship funds are limited and the selection process is competitive. Application deadline is March 1.
Application Materials:
- Native American Scholarship Application. Must be completed, signed and dated.
- Two-page essay. Please write the essay to include the following information:
- Introduction — introduce yourself, include your tribal affiliation and your hometown.
- Academics — describe yourself as a student. Include your study habits, your academic history and support system. Address any negative issues with your transcript. Tell who or what inspires you to attend college.
- Educational and Career Goals — talk about your major, minor, and emphasis. Discuss your educational goals. Describe your career goals.
- Other — address any obstacles you have overcome to attend school or any special circumstances you have. Describe your involvement in extra-curricular and/ or cultural activities. Note your financial needs.
- Two current (less than one year) letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should come from individuals who can comment on your academic potential and provide examples of your abilities.
- Documented Tribal Membership. Please provide proof of tribal membership or descendency.
- Current transcript (may be unofficial).
*Please refer to the list of scholarships as two (2) scholarships have specific essay requirements.
*Please refer to the list of scholarships as one (1) scholarship requires three (3) letters of recommendation.
All applications must be submitted (post marked, emailed, faxed) no later than March 1 by midnight. Please send completed application materials to Scholarships, NAS, 600 University Avenue, Missoula, MT 59812. Fax 406.243-6432. Email: nasadvisor@mso.umt.edu.
- K.W. Bergan Scholarship Awarded to enrolled members or children of enrolled members of any Montana Tribe attending full-time.
- George M. and Jane I. Dennison Scholarship Awarded to an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish & Kooteani Tribes. Requirements include at least a 3.0 grade point average, involvement in extra-curricular activities (including cultural activities), taking 16 credits per semester, and a 5-10 page essay about issues facing the Salish and Kootenai and how the applicant’s education will address those issues.
- Dennis and Gretchen Eck Scholarship Awarded with preference to an enrolled member or child of an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Nation. The recipient is required to have at least a 3.0 grade point average and be enrolled for 14 credit hours as an upperclassman or maintain a 2.5 grade point average or better and be enrolled in 12 credit hours as a freshman.
- Ralph E. and Hulda M. Fields Scholarship Awarded to Native American students with exceptional grade point averages who are attending full-time and studying forestry, journalism, law, or pharmacy.
- C.I. Furry Family Scholarship Awarded to Native American students enrolled full-time.
- Marion E. Garess Scholarship Awarded to a Native American student attending full-time.
- Francis and Florence Jones Greaves Scholarship Awarded to Native American students of Montana origin attending full-time. Preference is given to incoming freshmen.
- Bonnie Heavy Runner Scholarship Awarded to Native American students who are studying Law and/or Native American Studies.
- Hileman Family Scholarship Awarded to a Native American student who is enrolled full-time and shows promise and determination.
- Anna Marie Lucas Scholarship Awarded to a Native American student attending full-time.
- Carl McFarland Scholarship Awarded to Native American students who are Montana residents.
- Merriam Scholarship Awarded to a Native American undergraduate or graduate student who is enrolled full-time and demonstrates an interest in Native American Studies/issues.
- Earl Old Person Scholarship Awarded to an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe who is a recent high school graduate or a transfer student from Blackfeet Community College. The recipient must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and be involved in extra-curricular activities (including cultural activities). A 5-10 page essay outlining the issues facing the Blackfeet Nation and how the applicant’s education will help address those issues is required. Three letters of recommendation are required: 1 community, 1 academic and 1 cultural.
- George Pease Scholarship Awarded to enrolled members of Montana tribes with Montana residency. The recipients must demonstrate scholastic ability and have financial need.
- Alice M. Phillips Scholarship Awarded to a Native American student with preference given to a history major or candidate who shows interest in the field of history.
- Albert Price Scholarship Awarded to Native American students in any field.
- Helen Roberti Humanities Graduate Scholarship Awarded to a graduate student pursuing a PhD in the humanities with a focus on Native American history, culture, or literature.
- Sappenfield Scholarship Awarded to Native American graduate students who show promise for professional achievement or community service; preference is given to a psychology student.
- Burt and Eva Spaulding Scholarship Awarded to Native American undergraduate or graduate students.
- Julia Hendrickson Staffanson Scholarship Awarded to a Native American student enrolled full-time.
- Kate and Russell Stark Memorial Fund Awarded to Native American graduate students in any field.
- Owen D and Ruth Stetson Speer Scholarship Awarded to a Salish or Kootenai student attending full–time. Preference is given to education majors.
