Applications are now available for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Endowed Scholarship at the University of Minnesota for the 2013-2014 academic year. The SMSC Endowed Scholarship was established in 2008 through a $2.5 million gift from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community into a matching endowment fund, creating a $5 million endowment to provide scholarships for American Indian students. To date, 112 students from across the United States have received SMSC scholarships.
“We encourage qualified graduating high school students from any state who are planning to attend any of the University of Minnesota campuses to look into this scholarship. While preference is given to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, students who qualify under the Indian Education Act are also eligible if they meet the other requirements,” said SMSC Chairman Charlie Vig.
The SMSC scholarship program is designed to recruit and retain talented American Indian students with demonstrated financial need to the University of Minnesota. The SMSC scholarship program is administered by the University’s Office for Equity and Diversity. The primary goal of the SMSC scholarship program is to support incoming University of Minnesota freshmen and transfer students with demonstrated financial need. Scholarships may also be awarded to qualified, newly admitted graduate and professional students in specific disciplines.
For undergraduates, scholarships are renewable for up to four years or until graduation (whichever comes first), contingent upon academic performance. For graduate and professional students, the length of funding is contingent upon academic performance, the school of enrollment, and degree program and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Grades and financial need determine if the scholarship is renewed for the following school year for each student.
For more information about SMSC scholarships, visit www.shakopeedakota.org/scholarships.html or e-mail Rickey Hall, assistant vice president for equity and diversity at the U of M, at hallrl@umn.edu. Applications must be postmarked on or before Aug. 1.
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