HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher Education Scholarships

Our goal is to support tribal members from the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region in pursuit of their academic aspirations and achieving success through Postsecondary Education. The Kawerak Higher Education program is committed to support education and provide the highest level of services to students through active communication, coordination, education information, planning and guidance, and partnerships with other MyCACHE organizations.

Scholarships are provided to eligible tribal members of the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region who are accepted for enrollment into an accredited college or university full-time or part-time. Scholarships are provided to the school and applied toward tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, and other academic costs.

Tribal Members who are not Alaska residents may qualify for the program. Contact Kawerak for more information. Summer scholarships may be taken into consideration for current students who require summer courses in order to fulfill graduation requirements within one [1] year.  2024 Update: The Kawerak Board of Directors voted to open scholarships for the Summer Semester for ALL eligible applicants who wish to take courses in the summer semester.

Scholarship Application Deadlines

• Fall semester / Autumn quarter: June 30
• Spring semester / Winter quarter: December 1
• Spring quarter: February 15
• Summer semester / quarter: April 15  Extended – April 29, 2024

Scholarship Amounts

• Full-time scholarships are $1500/semester or $1000/quarter
• Part-time scholarships are $750/semester or $500/quarter
• Non-Alaska residents contact Kawerak for more information

*Scholarships amounts are as funding allows and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be Alaska Native or American Indian and a member of a federally recognized Tribe of the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region
• Nome Eskimo Community tribal members must apply at their local office
• Must show financial need
• Must be accepted for enrollment into a degree program at an accredited college or university

Application Process

• Submit the MyCACHE Scholarship Application online; Paper Applications can be obtained by contacting our office
• Must Complete an Intake Assessment and Education Development Plan
• Submit a copy of Verification of Tribal Enrollment (see your local IRA)
• Submit High School Diploma or GED Diploma and any previous College Transcripts
• Submit a Letter of Acceptance or Admissions from an accredited College or University
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Current Class Schedule
• Current Photo (optional)

*Applications are not considered complete until all required documentation is received. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application and documents are received.

Continuing Scholarships

To continue to qualify for funds, students must submit a continuing MyCACHE Application, maintain academic progress with a GPA of at least a 2.0 each term or passing grade, meet the minimum credits to be considered full- or part-time, and show financial need.

Intake and Case Management

Once the application is determined for eligibility, the applicant will be notified by letter of their scholarship status. Each applicant who receives a scholarship will meet with the case manager to complete an Individual Education Plan, keep Kawerak updated on progress, and follow-up 90 days after the service is provided.

Contact

Higher Education Team, he@kawerak.org, 907-443-4476 or cell 907-434-1213.

Apply Online

The MyCACHE Scholarship application just became simpler!

My-Cache.org is a website where students can log on and complete their application for scholarships online. The website is the home of the Combined Application for College and Higher Education (CACHE) group, consisting of the Bering Straits Foundation, Kawerak, Inc., Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, Sitnasuak Foundation and the Norton Sound Health Corporation.

The first step is to sign up and create a user profile. Once you sign up for the site, you will have access to all scholarship opportunities provided by the MyCACHE group.

Use this online resource to get your questions answered: find out who to contact at each regional organization, what requirements you need for the CACHE application, and how much money you’re eligible to receive.  Start your applications online www.my-cache.org.

As a strategic priority and goal, Kawerak is committed to Growing and Developing Our Own Educators to further build upon culturally effective, relevant, and responsive educational systems and increase impact within our region and communities. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• A resident of the Bering Strait region.
• Applicants must be tribally enrolled in the Bering Strait region (tribal members of the Nome Eskimo Community must apply there).
•  Applicants must be accepted into a degree program that would qualify you to become a certified teacher at an accredited institution. 
• Undergraduate applicants must have already completed 36 credit hours toward their degree program. 
• Undergraduate applicants must be registered for at least 12 credit hours and have a minimum cumulative and current 2.5 GPA.
• Graduate applicants must be a full-time student in their degree program and have a minimum cumulative and current 2.5 GPA.

Applicants will be asked to Provide:

• Kawerak Teacher Education Scholarship Application (can be found on the MyCache website: www.my-cache.org).
• Personal Essay should demonstrate clear goals to work toward becoming a certified teacher and why you choose this pathway. 
•  All other required documents to qualify for Kawerak’s Higher Education Scholarship. 

Scholar Selection and Notification:

• Applications are reviewed and awarded each semester.
• Each applicant will receive notification of their award status.
• Due to the competitiveness of the scholarship program, additional criteria may be used to make a final selection and determination of awardees. This may include: essay response, academic performance, degree progression, date of graduation, etc.

Scholar Requirements and Maintaining Eligibility:

• In order to remain eligible, applicants must maintain full time status and a 2.5 GPA. 
• Students on probationary status will not be considered eligible.

To be eligible, tribal members must be enrolled at an accredited college or university pursuing a degree in professional piloting or enrolled at an established flight training school pursuing professional flight training to become a commercial pilot in the Bering Strait region.

Kawerak will issue five-$3,000 scholarships until funds run out. A one-time scholarship will be used specifically for flight time and issued directly to flight training school. Applicants are only eligible for one award. However, Kawerak has other funding available to continue training.

Eligibility Criteria:

• A resident of the Bering Strait region.**
• Applicants must be tribally enrolled with a village in the Bering Strait region (tribal members of the Nome Eskimo Community must apply there).
• Applicants must be accepted into a degree program at an accredited institution or training program at an established flight school.
• Applicant must have at least 20 hours (50% of the required hours) completed for a PPL

Applicants will be Asked to Provide:

• Kawerak Aviation Scholarship application (can be found on the MyCache website: www.my-cache.org)
• Personal essay to include clear goals to work toward becoming a commercial pilot and why you choose this pathway.
• Two letters of recommendation (preferably from ground school instructor or professional in the airline industry)
• Flight log to show 50% of total hours are complete
• Letter from established flight school

**Note: This program is for regional residents. Students working on their private pilot license, with the goal of becoming a commercial pilot, who lived in-region but are currently attending college or flight school out of region, are still eligible to apply.

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