Scholarship Opportunities
Review this information to find the appropriate application deadline and understand the requirements, award details, and terms. Awards are subject to to available funding.
Application Deadline: June 30
Amount: Up to $6,000 for full-time students; $200 per credit hour (up to $3,000) for part-time and summer school students. Combining the academic year with summer funding may provide up to $9,000.
Requirements:
- CIRI original shareholder or lineal descendant
- High school diploma or GED
- Enrolled in Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate, or pre-requisite courses for a degree program
- Attending an accredited institution
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
Award Details:
- Full-time students: Up to $6,000 per academic year (August-July)
- Part-time and summer students: $200 per credit hour, up to $3,000 per term
- There is no need to reapply at the Mid-Year deadline if awarded for the Academic Year
Award Terms:
- Maintain all funding requirements to remain eligible
- Funding covers direct educational expenses and up to $500 per term for personal expenses if other costs are covered
N0 deadline – apply any day.
Amount: Up to $9,000 per calendar year
ndarRequirements:
- CIRI original shareholder or lineal descendant
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Enrolled in a technical skill training program earning a certificate/certification or a professional license
- Must be attending an accredited/recognized institution
- A 2.0 term grade point average or higher. If your most recent post-secondary coursework was other vocational training, successful completion is considered equal to a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Award Details:
- Eligible to receive up to $9,000 per calendar year
- Can be funded at multiple deadlines if previous coursework has been completed and as long as the cap of $9,000 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
- 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 calendar year can be awarded only if all other costs have been covered.
- Awards are subject to available funding.
Deadline: December 31
Amount: Up to $3,000 for full-time students; $200 per credit hour up to $3,000 for part-time students
Requirements:
- CIRI original shareholder or lineal descendant
- High school diploma or GED
- Enrolled in Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate, Post-Baccalaureate, or pre-requisite courses for a degree program
- Attending an accredited institution
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- Fall transcripts showing completed funded coursework with the term GPA
- Upcoming course schedule showing credit hours
Award Details:
- Full-time students: Up to $3,000 for Spring and/or Winter term only
- Part-time students: $200 per credit hour, up to $3,000
- Must reapply at the June 30 deadline for Academic Year or Fall term funding
Award Terms:
- Maintain all funding requirements to remain eligible
- Funding covers direct educational expenses and up to $500 per term for personal expenses if other costs are covered
Deadline: Open
Amount: Up to $2,000 per calendar year
Requirements:
- Direct lineal descendant of a CIRI original shareholder
- Enrolled in a recognized/accredited college, training program, or post-secondary course of study while concurrently enrolled in high school
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
Award Details:
- Up to $2,000 per calendar year
- Can be funded at multiple deadlines if the grant cap of $2,000 is not exceeded
Award Terms:
- Maintain all funding requirements to remain eligible
- Funding covers direct educational expenses and up to $500 per term for personal expenses if other costs are covered
Deadline: June 30 (paper application available April 1)
Amount: Up to $4,000 for full-time students
Requirements:
- Alaska Native original regional or village corporation shareholder or lineal descendant (preference to Cook Inlet Region, Inc. shareholders/descendants)
- Enrolled or accepted full-time in an accredited college or university
- Declared major in broadcast, telecommunication, business, engineering, journalism, or other media-related fields
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Intend to work in Alaska in the broadcast/telecommunications industry (must describe intent in the Statement of Purpose)
Award Details:
- Up to $4,000 per academic year (August-July), subject to available funds
Award Terms:
- Maintain all funding requirements to remain eligible
- Funding covers direct educational expenses and up to $500 per term for personal expenses if other costs are covered
Scholarship Application Submission Guidelines
Application Requirements
TCF accepts scholarship applications exclusively through our online portal. To gain access, you’ll first need to establish your eligibility. Once approved, you’ll receive an email with a link to the scholarship application portal.
Complete Submission: Only fully complete applications will receive consideration to ensure fairness and systematic processing.
Deadline Compliance: All application materials and documentation are due by the deadline. Exceptions may receive consideration under the following conditions:
Schedule and Transcripts Exception: If your class schedule or transcripts are available after the application deadline, you must complete TCF’s class schedule attestation form and upload it to your application in the section designated for your class schedule so your application is processed without these documents maintaining your eligibility for consideration.
Payment Release for Exceptions: Payment is only issued when the documents specified on the attestation form are received and verified with a complete application. These documents are essential for confirming your continued eligibility for the program.
Application Cancellation: Your application’s progress relies on the timely submission of the specified documents to avoid cancellation.
We aim to support every applicant and encourage timely communication to avoid interruptions. If you have questions or need assistance, please get in touch with TCF’s Scholarship Team. We’re here for you from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 907-793-3575. For the quickest response, contact us early during the 90-day application period. As the deadline nears, inquiries and our response time increase.
TCF processes applications in the order received, so get started. Be prepared early. Apply early. Get awarded early. We’re here to help you succeed.
Notification of Results
Grievance and Appeal Process
Award Confirmation: If selected for a scholarship, you will receive an email with instructions on how to log in and formally accept your award.
Documentation Discrepancies: Applicants who do not submit the required transcripts or schedule will receive a cancellation notification.
Ineligibility Notification: Applicants who fail to meet the necessary criteria will be informed of their ineligibility via email.
Award Amounts and Frequency
Non-stackable Awards: Applicants cannot combine or stack awards from the General and Career Technical Education scholarships simultaneously. To qualify for additional funding, recipients must complete the coursework funded by the initial scholarship. This ensures equitable access to resources for all applicants and encourages successful program completion.
Comprehensive Academic Year Application: Eligible students are invited to apply for scholarship funding that covers the entire academic year, including the Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. This comprehensive approach provides continuous support throughout your educational journey, facilitating uninterrupted progress and completion of your studies.
The Foundation is committed to listening to applicants and addressing their concerns.
- Grievances Resolvable by the Scholarship Team
- Administrative Error: The Scholarship Manager will work with applicants to correct administrative errors.
- Situations Outside the Applicant’s Control: If extenuating circumstances affect the applicant, they may seek reconsideration by submitting a grievance statement to the Scholarship Manager. Examples of qualifying conditions beyond the applicant’s control include, but not limited to, medical emergencies, natural disasters, unforeseen legal obligations, military deployment, widespread technical issues with the TCF portal, or widespread infrastructural issues.
- Submitting a Complaint to the President/CEO: If the applicant is unsatisfied after discussing the issue with the Scholarship Manager, they may submit a written complaint to the President/CEO. It must include a clear outline of the problem, supporting documentation, and a proposed solution. The President/CEO will respond in writing.
- Escalation Appeal: If the applicant remains unsatisfied after the President/CEO’s response, they may escalate the complaint to TCF’s Education Awards Committee (EAC). The applicant must submit a written request for appeal to the President/CEO, including all relevant documentation. The President/CEO will review the request with the EAC. The EAC will receive the complaint and relevant TCF communication records, including emails and call logs. The EAC will review all documentation, considering adherence to guidelines and deadlines, to make a final determination.
- Final Decision: The EAC and President/CEO will provide a final decision after the appeal review and notify the applicant.
Important Note: For appeals regarding scholarship applications, please contact TCF directly to ensure prompt and efficient processing. CIRI and TCF are separate organizations with distinct offices and staff. CIRI does not handle scholarship appeals; TCF is honored to be the designated organization for scholarship programming serving CIRI Original Shareholders, Direct Descendants, and voting CIRI Shareholders. Failure to follow the escalation appeal process may result in forfeiture of appeals rights.
Conditions and Responsibilities
Lifetime Limits:
- Undergraduate Programs: The lifetime limit is $30,000 per individual.
- Graduate Programs: The lifetime limit is $20,000.
Financial assistance for Jumpstart programs or Career Technical Education counts toward the undergraduate scholarship limits. This ensures equitable fund allocation, supporting a range of educational objectives from early college engagement and technical skill acquisition to traditional degree completion.
TCF’s Board of Directors evaluates financial support for educational endeavors beyond a Master’s degree, such as doctoral studies or specialized professional programs, on an individual basis. This flexibility allows us to address each scholar’s unique needs and ambitions, ensuring impactful and meaningful support.
Maintaining Eligibility:
- Academic Performance: Maintain a term GPA of 2.0 or above throughout the funded term.
- Coursework Completion: Fulfill all scheduled coursework submitted for eligibility assessment.
Reporting Changes in Circumstance:
- Enrollment Status: Notify us if you switch from full-time to part-time.
- School Transfer: Inform us if you change schools.
- Schedule Changes: Report any changes to your schedule, such as withdrawing from classes.
Failure to notify us of these changes may result in ineligibility for one term.
Code of Conduct
As scholarship recipients, individuals are expected to uphold high standards of behavior and professionalism in their academic pursuits and interactions with staff and peers. These guidelines foster a respectful and supportive educational environment:
Class Attendance
- Expectation: Attend all classes associated with funded coursework.
- Importance: Regular attendance is crucial for academic success and demonstrates commitment to making the most of the scholarship opportunity.
Academic Achievement
- Requirement: Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Significance: This underscores the importance of consistent academic performance and dedication to educational excellence.
Professional Conduct
- Interactions: Conduct all interactions with The CIRI Foundation staff, faculty, and fellow students with professionalism.
- Behavior: Refrain from derogatory remarks or inappropriate behavior. Respectful communication and conduct are foundational to creating a conducive learning environment.
Ethical Application Submission
- Integrity: Ensure that your scholarship application honestly reflects your financial need for educational funding.
- Accuracy: Provide accurate and truthful information about your financial situation and educational goals.