The Kuskokwim Educational Foundation's (KEF) mission is to contribute to the future of our region by providing effective educational assistance in order that students obtain the tools, knowledge and skills to become successful and contributing members of their communities.

Educational assistance is provided for Native people and their descendants from the Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC) region. A four-member board of directors oversees the operation of the Foundation and reviews scholarship applications. Board members are Rachel Klein, Lucy Brown, Jaylene Peterson-Nyren, Samantha Gunes, and Clara Morgan.

Scholarships

Types

Currently there are four types of scholarships offered by the Kuskokwim Educational Foundation:

General:

For college and university courses, vocational and continuing education, exchange-student programs, and other educational opportunities approved by the KEF board of directors.

Specialized:

The Mary Morgan-Wolf Memorial Scholarship for students entering into a health-related field.

Specialized:

The Nick "Nixe" Mellick Memorial Scholarship for students entering into the field of business.

Specialized:

The Suulutaaq Construction Scholarship for students interested in heavy equipment, electrical, carpentry, or the likes. This scholarship is offered through the partnership of Nugget Construction and TKC.

Qualifications

Students planning to attend a college or university must have a high school diploma or possess a G.E.D. Students planning to attend a vocational school who have not graduated from high school will be expected to attain their G.E.D. by the time the training is completed.

All applicants must be in good academic standing. Full-time college undergraduates must maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA where 4.0 = A) and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours or the equivalent per semester. Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and also complete a minimum of 12 credit hours or the equivalent per semester.

Vocational students must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completing a vocational program or achieving certification in a particular field.

Funding Amount

KEF will award scholarships twice each year, once on July 1st and again on December 1st. Awards are generally for a one-year period and range from $100 to $1,500. The student's financial need will be an important consideration of KEF awards. Since these scholarships generally do not cover all educational expenses, students are encouraged and expected to investigate other loan and scholarship programs. Students should investigate the Alaska Student Loan Program, and programs offered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Kuskokwim Native Association.

Applications must be accompanied by:

• A letter or essay describing the student's personal background, educational objectives, and plans for financing their education (Returning students need to state their intention to enroll for the next semester and write about their academic experience in the last semester)
• A recent photo (no copyright photos please)
• Two letters of recommendation (new students)
• Official transcripts from high school, vocational schools, or colleges (applies to new and returning students)

Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service recognizes the Kuskokwim Educational Foundation, Inc. as a non-profit private foundation that is totally supported by donations from private individuals and companies. All donations made to KEF qualify for the charitable contribution deduction.