Scholarships

We operate two scholarship awards, the Schuyler M. Meyer, Jr. Award
and the Al Qöyawayma Award.

At the current time we are only able to accept scholarship renewal requests. If there are any changes in this situation, we will post it on the website

Schuyler M. Meyer, Jr. Award

To apply a student must:
1. Be accepted or already attending either an undergraduate or graduate program.
    Consideration is also given to students enrolled in 2-year colleges.
2. Demonstrate financial need
3. Have proof of tribal enrollment

Students in all fields of study are able to apply. Recent high school graduates, students already attending undergraduate or graduate programs, older adults returning to school after a long absence from formal educational studies are all able to apply.

Al Qöyawayma Award

To apply a student must:
1. Be accepted or already attending either an undergraduate or graduate program.
    Consideration is also given to students enrolled in 2-year colleges.
2. Demonstrate financial need
3. Have proof of tribal enrollment
4. Major in either science or engineering and have demonstrated an outstanding
interest and skill in any of the visual, literary or performing arts

Recent high school graduates, students already attending undergraduate or graduate programs, older adults returning to school after a long absence from formal
educational studies are all able to apply.

Service Learning

What is Service Learning?

Service learning provides youth with opportunities to address real needs within their community, to contribute and to make a positive difference.

It is an exciting educational tool where improving the community is integrated into the curriculum – where learning is extended beyond the walls of the classroom. Service learning nurtures caring, citizenship, respect and responsibility.

In 1997, the Grinnell Fund and the Mescalero Apache School community (Mescalero, NM) established a partnership to expand service learning for the students. Through our partnership, service was strengthened and incorporated into the school’s curriculum.

A third grader at Mescalero Apache School wrote: “You should have been there when we collected food for the hungry people. The class all brought canned goods, rice, spaghetti, coffee and beans... Mrs. McCarthy took the box to the church. It feels good to know our class might have saved someone’s life.”

Diversity Programs

Building Bridges

The Grinnell Fund seeks to establish programs for elementary, middle school and high school youth to support respect, appreciation and understanding for cultural diversity between and among native and non-native youth. Through this exchange, the program aims to foster a sense of pride among the participating youth – pride in their school, communities and within themselves.

We established a pilot program in February 2004 - Building Bridges. Fourteen students from Mescalero Apache High School and 13 high school students from Millbrook Junior/Senior High School exchanged letters via e-mail, to get to know other youth from a community very different from their own. The participating youth shared their customs, traditions and lifestyles as a way to build greater respect and understanding with peers living in a different culture and community.

The Millbrook students' service project - a scrap book - for their Mescalero Apache friends, contained pictures and information on the Millbrook community. The Mescalero Apache students' service project – a CD Video for their Millbrook friends, contained aspects of Mescalero Apache culture as experienced during Culture Week in April 2004.

For more information about one of the programs, go to Accomplishments.

To apply for a scholarship, go to Contact