Directed studies program seeks students
By Christina Good Voice
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation is seeking applicants for a new scholarship program that would provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher education degrees in areas of study aimed at strengthening the CN government and economy.
“The Cherokee Nation wants a vehicle to educate Cherokees in different fields, different capacities to benefit the Nation, strengthening the Cherokee Nation overall – its government and its economy” Lisa Trice-Turtle, Directed Studies coordinator, said.
Those specific areas of study for the new Direct Studies Scholarship include behavioral health, business administration, Cherokee education, child development, criminal justice, fine arts, medicine, nursing, mass communication and social work, among others.
The areas of study were compiled based on an ongoing list of “hard to fill” positions at the CN, as well as areas that will help strengthen the tribe, Trice-Turtle said.
“A lot of health professions are listed…Cherokee bilingual teachers for the immersion initiatives and secondary education with Cherokee language,” she said.
The CN would provide scholarships for selected scholars, who are upper division undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the CN Directed Studies Program at a partner university, according to the application.
The scholarship covers the cost of tuition, books, fees, room and board and required equipment.
“The key factor is that where it says we pay at a ‘limited rate,’ so if someone was considering going to a private school they can still apply, but if it’s above and beyond the credit hour we have set for a limited rate, they would have to up the difference,” Trice-Turtle said.
Each student is also expected to complete courses in a Cherokee Summer Institute in a placement site designated by the CN the summer following each year of financial assistance throughout the program.
“It’ll be a Cherokee Nation retreat-type atmosphere, or Cherokee Nation 101, where they’ll get information about the branches of government, Cherokee Nation as a whole, who we are, what we are, the history course and the language course,” Trice-Turtle said. “It’s a real exciting time for education services to be able to offer this type of program.”
In return for receiving financial assistance, each scholarship recipient would be required to work at a placement site determined by the CN upon graduation for a at least two years.
According to the program, a Cherokee Scholar Selection Committee is expected to evaluate each applicant in the following areas: applicants’ field of study and whether it meets the need of a CN Directed Study Scholarship, academic performance, standardized test performance, involvement and leadership in a tribal community and leadership and excellence in extra-curricular activities. Preference will be given to speakers of the Cherokee language.
Requirements for students who participate in the program include CN citizenship, resident in the tribe’s 14-county jurisdiction, full-time student status, accepted into a professional, masters or upper level bachelor’s program/school, must have an approved major degree plan on file, medical field degrees are encouraged to apply for the Indian Health Scholarship, must submit official transcripts at the end of each semester, must maintain a grade point average that is in good standing with school, must attend the Cherokee Summer Institute and must sign a contract to work for the CN for two years after graduation.
The deadline for the spring 2009 semester is Nov. 14. The summer 2009 deadline is March 13, 2009, and the fall 2009 deadline is June 12, 2009.