SCHOLARSHIPS

 

The CIRI Foundation offers general scholarships to full-time and part-time degree-seeking students. Scholarships are offered for the full academic year or per term. There are two scholarship deadlines a year. Please review the information below to decide the appropriate application deadline and review the requirements, award details and terms.

TCF’s general semester scholarship applications are entirely electronic and must be submitted using our online system. You must have an approved user account to apply for scholarships online. Click here to apply for a new user account. Applications open online approximately 90 days before the deadline. Applications must be received on or before the deadline to be considered. Applications do not automatically renew each year; you must reapply if you want to be considered for funding.

 

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP (Academic Year)

Deadline: June 30

Academic Year Amount:  Up to $6,000/$5,500 for academic year for full-time/part-time students

Requirements:

  • CIRI original enrollee or direct lineal descendant
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED
  • Enrolled in one of the following degree programs: Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate; or pre-requisite courses before entering into a degree program
  • Must be attending an accredited institution
  • A 2.0 term grade point average or higher

Award Details:

  • Full-time students: eligible to receive one award up to $6,000 per academic year (August-July)
  • Part-time students: eligible to receive one award up to $5,500 per academic year (August-July)
  • If you receive an Academic Year award, you do not need to reapply at the Mid-Year  deadline.

Award Terms:

  • Upon receiving an award, students must maintain all funding requirements to remain in good standing with TCF and eligible for future funding.
  • Failure to maintain funding requirements may result in  potential funding loss.
  • Fund uses direct educational expenses, including tuition, student registration fees, course-required books/supplies, and on-campus house and meal plans. Personal expenses for $500 per term can be awarded only if all other costs have been covered.
  • Applicants will be evaluated based on the information submitted with their application
  • Awards are subject to available funding

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP (Fall Only)

Deadline: June 30

Fall Term Amount: Up to $3,000/$2,750 for Fall term for full-time/part-time students

The CIRI Foundation (TCF) promotes students applying for the entire academic year. However, we understand that sometimes circumstances may lead a student to apply for the Fall term only vs. the whole academic year. Same requirements and award terms apply as noted above. If you apply for Fall term only, you must reapply at the Mid-Year Scholarship deadline to be considered for Spring/Winter funding. It is your responsibility to reapply.

Award Details:

  • Full-time students: eligible to receive one award up to $3,000 per Fall term
  • Part-time students: eligible to receive one award up to $2,750 per Fall term
  • Must reapply at the Mid Year deadline for Winter and/or Spring funding

Reasons to apply for the Fall term only:

  • You are planning to switch schools after the Fall term
  • You are planning to switch from part-time to full-time after the Fall term
  • You are planning to graduate after the Fall term

COMPETITIVE, MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

The CIRI Foundation (TCF) offers limited competitive, merit-based scholarships to full-time degree-seeking students. These scholarships are designed to recognize and appreciate academic excellence, community service, civic activities and contribution to the Native community among TCF recipients.  Students do not apply separately for these scholarships; general scholarship applicants who apply at the June 30 deadline for the entire academic year and meet the minimum requirements for TCF's competitive, merit-based scholarships will be considered.

Requirements:

  • Must meet higher GPA requirements noted below, in addition to meeting the general semester scholarship requirements
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student
  • Applicants are then evaluated using a competitive selection process which includes a variety of factors: exceptional statement of purpose with a clear articulation of education and career goals; a high level of community service and civic activities; and a demonstrated intent to give back to the community, especially the Alaska Native community

Award Details:

  • Special Excellence Annual Scholarship: Up to $20,000 for the academic year, GPA requirement of 3.7
  • Excellence Annual Scholarship: Up to $10,000 for the academic year, GPA requirement of 3.5
  • Achievement Annual Scholarship: Up to $8,000 for the academic year, GPA requirement of 3.0

Award Terms:

  • Upon receiving an award, students must maintain all funding requirements to remain in good standing with TCF and remain eligible for future funding
  • Failure to maintain funding requirements may result in probation and/or infraction status with a potential loss of funding
  • Fund uses direct educational expenses, including tuition, student registration fees, course-required books/supplies, and on-campus house and meal plans. Personal expenses for $500 per term can be awarded only if all other costs have been covered
  • Applicants will be evaluated based on the information submitted with their application
  • Awards are subject to available funding

Click here to learn more about the Designated Endowments and Named Funds Awards!

MID-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP (Spring and/or Winter Term Only)

Deadline: December 31, 2024

Spring and/or Winter Amount: Up to $3,000/$2,750 for Spring and/or Winter term for full-time/part-time students

The CIRI Foundation (TCF) offers scholarships for the Spring and/or Winter term(s) only at the mid-year scholarship deadline. Therefore, you must reapply at the June 30 General Scholarship deadline to be considered for an academic year or Fall term funding. It is your responsibility to reapply.

Requirements:

  • CIRI original enrollee or direct lineal descendant
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED
  • Enrolled in one of the following degree programs: Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate; Post-Baccalaureate program of study; or pre-requisite courses before entering into a degree program
  • Must be attending an accredited institution
  • A 2.0 term grade point average or higher

Award Details:

  • Full-time students: eligible to receive one award up to $3,000 for Spring and/or Winter term only
  • Part-time students: eligible to receive one award up to $2,750 for Spring and/or Winter term only
  • Must reapply at June 30 deadline to be considered for Academic Year or Fall term funding

Award Terms:

  • Upon receiving an award, students must maintain all funding requirements to remain in good standing with TCF and remain eligible for future funding
  • Failure to maintain funding requirements may result in a potential loss of funding
  • Fund uses direct educational expenses, including tuition, student registration fees, course-required books/supplies, and on-campus house and meal plans. Personal expenses for $500 per term can be awarded only if all other costs have been covered
  • Applicants will be evaluated based on the information submitted with their application
  • Awards are subject to available funding

 JUMP START AWARDS FOR DEGREE-SEEKING OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING STUDENTS (High School Students)

Deadlines: Rolling monthly 

Per Term Amount: Up to $2,000 per calendar year

Requirements:

  • Direct lineal descendant of a CIRI original shareholder
  • Enrolled in a recognized or accredited college, training program, or other authorized post-secondary education course of study while concurrently enrolled in high school or an equivalent program
  • Must have a current term 2.0 grade point average or higher
  • Must apply using the TCF Jump Start paper application

Award Details:

  • Eligible to receive up to $2,000 per calendar year
  • Can be funded at multiple deadlines if previous coursework has been completed and as long as the grant cap of $2,000 is not exceeded

Award Terms:

  • Upon receiving an award, students must maintain all funding requirements in order to remain in good standing with TCF and remain eligible for future funding
  • Failure to maintain funding requirements may result in  potential loss of funding
  • Fund uses: direct educational expenses including tuition, student registrations fees, course-required book/supplies, and on-campus house and meal plans. Personal expenses in the amount of $500 per term can be awarded only if all other costs have been covered
  • Applicants will be evaluated based on the information submitted with their application
  • Awards are subject to available funding

CAP LATHROP SCHOLARSHIP (Academic Year)

Deadline: June 30 (Offered via paper application – available April 1)

Amount: Up to $4,000 for full-time students

The Cap Lathrop Endowment Scholarship Fund was established in 1997 in memory of Captain “Cap” Lathrop, a pioneer in Alaska’s telecommunications and broadcast industry. The Endowment, one of The CIRI Foundation’s several scholarship endowment programs, was funded with contributions from its major donor, A.E. “Augie” Hiebert, founder of Northern Television, Inc., General Communications, Inc., and other private donors. The Cap Lathrop Scholarship is offered to all eligible and qualified Alaska Natives, with preference given to enrollees/direct lineal descendants of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) who are majoring in broadcast, telecommunications, business, engineering, journalism, and other media-related fields.

Requirements:

  • Be an Alaska Native original regional or village corporation enrollee as provided in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) or a direct lineal descendant of an original enrollee. Preference is given to original enrollees and direct lineal descendants of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI).
  • Be enrolled or accepted into an accredited or authorized college or university full-time.
  • Be a declared major in a 2-year, 4-year, or graduate degree program in broadcast, telecommunications, business, engineering, journalism, and other media-related fields.
  • A 3.0 cumulative grade point average or higher
  • Intend to work in Alaska in the broadcast/telecommunications industry in some capacity upon completion of the degree program and describe such intent in the Statement of Purpose.

Award Details:

  • Amount may be up to $4,000 per academic year (August-July). Award amount is subject to available funds.

Award Terms:

  • Upon receiving an award, students must maintain all funding requirements to remain in good standing with TCF and remain eligible for future funding
  • Failure to maintain funding requirements may result in a potential loss of funding
  • Fund uses direct educational expenses, including tuition, student registration fees, course-required books/supplies, and on-campus house and meal plans. Personal expenses for $500 per term can be awarded only if all other costs have been covered
  • Applicants will be evaluated based on the information submitted with their application
  • Awards are subject to available funding