SCHOLARSHIPS

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP (Academic Year)

Deadline: June 1

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 2.5 cumulative 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 December 1 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 probation and/or infraction status and 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 1

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 Dec. 1 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 Dec. 1 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 1 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 1

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 1 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 2.5 cumulative 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 1 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 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

KICK START SCHOLARSHIP (First Term Only)

Deadlines: June 1 or December 1

Amount: Up to $2,000

If you are a first-time post-secondary applicant to The CIRI Foundation and do not have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, then you may be considered for a Kick Start Award. This is a one-time-only award and is subject to available funds. You must reapply at the next deadline under the regular guidelines to be considered for additional funding. It is your responsibility to reapply.

Requirements:

• CIRI original enrollee or direct lineal descendant
• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must be the first term of post-secondary education
• 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

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

RESTART SCHOLARSHIP (One Term Only)

Deadlines: June 1 or December 1

Amount: Up to $2,000

If you are a post-secondary applicant to The CIRI Foundation who has not attended school in over five years and you do not currently meet TCF’s cumulative GPA requirement of 2.5 or higher, then you may be considered for a Restart Scholarship. This is a one-time-only award and is subject to available funds. You must reapply at the next deadline under the regular guidelines to be considered for additional funding. It is your responsibility to reapply.

Requirements:

• CIRI original enrollee or direct lineal descendant
• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Has not attended post-secondary education in over five years and not currently meeting the 2.5 GPA requirement
• A strong commitment to your post-secondary education and meeting TCF’s requirements moving forward
• 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

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

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

Deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 1 (Paper Application)

Per Term Amount: Up to $2000 per calendar year

Requirements:

• Direct lineal descendant of a CIRI original enrollee
• 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 cumulative 2.5 grade point average or higher
• Must apply using the TCF Jump Start paper application. The application will be available to download approximately 30 days before the deadline.

Award Details:

• Eligible to receive up to $2000 per calendar year
• Can be funded at multiple deadlines if previous coursework has been completed and as long as the grant cap of $2000 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 probation and/or infraction status with 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

Application 

CAP LATHROP SCHOLARSHIP (Academic Year)

Deadline: June 1 (Offered via paper application – available May 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 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

Cap Lathrop Application Will Be Available 30 Days Before the Deadline