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Available to Native American students this fall
WSU partners with Muckleshoot Tribe to offer scholarships
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
By Steve Nakata, Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment
Students study in WSU’s Native American Student Center
PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University has received a $25,000 grant from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to provide scholarship support for Native American students.
The grant will assist five students with $5,000 scholarships beginning in the fall of 2012.
Barbara Aston, WSU assistant to the Provost and tribal liaison, said the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, based in Auburn, Wash., is committed to a seamless system of excellence in education from birth through higher education for their tribal members.
"This scholarship comes at a critical time of need for many students with the increases in tuition we have seen resulting from diminishing state budget allocations,” said Aston.
There are currently 215 students attending WSU who have self-identified as being Native American. While the number is not large, WSU does provide Native students with many forms of support through the Native American Student Center and the Native American Culture and Heritage House. WSU is also home to the Plateau Center for American Indian Studies which offers both a minor and a certificate in American Indian Studies. The American Indian Studies Program evolved from the Memorandum of Understanding WSU has with nine Columbia Plateau tribes.
Native American Retention Counselor Franci Taylor said in her conversations with students, they are concerned about money more than anything else.
"I have students telling me they have to choose between food and books, between better housing and tuition, or between extra study time or a part-time job—when one can be found,” said Taylor.
She said tribally funded scholarships, like the new Muckleshoot Scholarships, are beneficial in two ways. They not only relieve financial worries among students, but they also build a solid commitment between students and their communities of origin.
"Many of the students I work with say they will return home with the skills they have gained at WSU to make their communities more economically stable and healthy,” Taylor said.
According to a 2003 U.S. Commission on Human Rights report called The Quiet Crisis, American Indians are the smallest, poorest and most underrepresented group in higher education. Aston says it will be through partnerships like the one WSU has established with the Muckleshoot that will help improve the situation for Native students.
"We will be diligent in honoring the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s trust in WSU through the awarding of this scholarship and by following up with recipients to make them aware of our many programs and opportunities for success,” said Aston.
Students interested in applying for a Muckleshoot Scholarship need to complete WSU’s general Scholarship application.
Contact:
Barbara Aston, Assistant to the Provost and Tribal Liaison, WSU, 509-335-8618, Barbara.aston@wsu.edu.
Franci Taylor, Retention Counselor, Native American Student Center, WSU, 509-335-8677, franci.taylor@wsu.edu.
Steve Nakata, Manager of Communications, Student Affairs and Enrollment, 509-335-1774, nakata@wsu.edu.
Barbara Aston, Assistant to the Provost and Tribal Liaison, WSU, 509-335-8618, Barbara.aston@wsu.edu.
Franci Taylor, Retention Counselor, Native American Student Center, WSU, 509-335-8677, franci.taylor@wsu.edu.
Steve Nakata, Manager of Communications, Student Affairs and Enrollment, 509-335-1774, nakata@wsu.edu.
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