George Bird Grinnell American Indian Fund
About the Grinnell Fund Grinnell Fund Programs Grinnell Fund Accomplishments Contact the Grinnell Fund
About the Grinnell Fund Grinnell Fund Programs Grinnell Fund Accomplishments Contact the Grinnell Fund
Accomplishments

Scholarship Program:

Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients!
For the past two school years (2002-2003 and 2003-2004) all of our scholarship
recipients successfully completed the school year.
Seven students earned their
undergraduate degrees and 3 students earned graduate degrees… a law degree,
a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and a Masters in Speech Pathology.

For the 2004/2005 school year we awarded 13 scholarships, including 9 awards for
rising seniors and 2 awards for graduate students.

Awarded 182 scholarships since 1992.
Recipients represent diversity in tribal affiliation, state of residence and in the variety
of fields in which they major. These include the sciences, law, medicine, education, engineering, business, speech, psychology and the arts.

During the 2002-2003 school year, 29 scholarships awarded.
100% successfully completed the school year.

During the 2003-2004 school year, 18 scholarships awarded,
all for scholarship renewals. 100% successfully completed the school year.

Recipients who can determine how to use the funds find it very helpful.

“The school limits how much financial aid you can receive and does not consider parenthood as an additional expense. It is already difficult to be a parent and a full time student, not to mention financial issues.” (Eva B., undergraduate at the University of Alaska)

The scholarship award makes a difference in reducing financial pressures.

“The scholarship award helped very much in reducing financial pressures. This award helped me pay for tuition, books, supplies, living expenses and traveling expense.” (Chad M., undergraduate majoring in business management)

The scholarship award makes a difference in reducing emotional pressures.

“It allowed me to concentrate on school rather than worry so much, more than you realize. I always view the award as a sort of support and feel the need to always make the scholarship staff proud!” (Ray C., obtained his Bachelors in Science in May 2004)

Click here for some comments from our scholarship recipients

 

Service Learning:

We began a partnership with the Mescalero Apache School (Mescalero, NM) in the fall of 1997. Some of our accomplishments resulting from this partnership include:

High school students in the spring of 1998 named the service learning program,
Project BIONIC (Believe It Or Not, I Care!)

Community service was established as a requirement for high school graduation. A service learning class was established for 4 years at the high school and for 2 years at the middle school. High school students are now supported to find service opportunities in the school and throughout the reservation community.

Elementary school teachers found ways to incorporate service learning into aspects of the school's Character Counts curriculum.

A Key Club (part of Kiwanis Club) was established at the high school. It has operated for 3 years and was the first Key Club to be established on an Indian reservation.

During the 2002-2003 school year, 13 high school students provided over 1,700 hours of service at the reservation’s elementary school and in the school’s administrative offices.

Twelve of these students received the Presidential Student Service Award – as they had provided 100 or more service hours within a 12 month period.

The Grinnell Fund developed resource materials to help implement the service learning. These include: Classroom Lessons – Helping Children to Explore the Meaning of Service; A Reflection Guide.

 

Building Bridges Program

Click here to learn more about the Building Bridges Program.

The Grinnell Fund’s programs are making a positive difference.

 

Artwork courtesy of Al Qoyawayma (www.alqpottery.com)