"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Helping Youth Save for College

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation is currently accepting applications for a special savings program designed to help students pay for their college education.

“Education is very important to the Cherokee people,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “For a promising future, we need to develop leaders with vision, and education is the gateway to visionary thinking. The Cherokee Nation understands the importance of creating opportunities for our youth by opening the door to higher learning through programs like the YIDA. A strong educational foundation will lead to promising futures for our younger generation of Cherokees and a better Cherokee Nation.”

According to coordinator Gina Martinez, the Youth Individual Development Account Program (YIDA) is a matched savings plan program and is designed to help Native American youth achieve their educational goals.

“The goal of the Cherokee Nation Youth IDA is to provide a mechanism through which Native American youth from low-income families may obtain educational assets needed in order to succeed in obtaining their educational goals,” said Martinez. “For every dollar the youth participant saves, the Cherokee Nation YIDA will match with two dollars.”

Participants will save $20 each month for a total of 24 months, attend money management classes, attend a college readiness course and earn match dollars to assist them with educational costs. All classes will be provided by Cherokee Nation.

In order to qualify, applicants must be a member of a Federally Recognized American Indian Tribe, be 14-17 years of age, live in the 14 county jurisdictional area of the Cherokee Nation and meet income guidelines. For more information contact Gina Martinez, phone: 918- 207-3834.