"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Education Corp. Helps Citizens

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation Educational Corporation (CNEC) is helping to ease the financial burden of higher education costs through several scholarship opportunities available to Cherokee Nation citizens.

“Education is important to the vitality and continued success of the Cherokee Nation and its citizens,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “However, financing a college education is expensive. These scholarships will help to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with educational costs and help Cherokee citizens achieve their educational goals.”

The CNEC is a non-profit corporation with a mission to provide educational assistance to Cherokee tribal citizens. One of the goals of CNEC is to revitalize the language, culture and history of the Cherokee people.

“The CNEC Board is most grateful to individuals from all parts of the United States for their generous donations to our scholarship fund,” said Shelley Butler-Allen, Secretary/Treasurer of CNEC. “It is individual scholarship donations that enable our students to engage in pursuing their higher education goals. CNEC looks forward to increasing the number of scholarship over the next five years.”

Scholarship applicants must be citizens of the Cherokee Nation. All applications must be received by Friday, March 14.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Cherokee citizens in pursuit of higher learning,” said Butler-Allen. “There are seven different scholarships available to applicants. I really encourage our citizens to apply. This is a great way to help pay for the cost of an education.”

The Harold “Jiggs” Phillips Memorial Award is available to Cherokee citizens who are graduates of an Adair County High School. The scholarship amount is $1,000 per semester or $2,000 per year. Applicants who maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) may be awarded funding for a second semester. The award may be used for attending a college, university or vocational-education school.

The James R. Upton Memorial Award is available to Cherokee Nation citizens who have permanent residency in Cherokee County and have graduated from Sequoyah Schools. The scholarship amount is a one-time award in the amount of $500 for students attending a higher education institution or technology institute.

The John Shurr Journalism Award is available to Cherokee citizens who are currently working toward a graduate degree in journalism or mass communications. Award amounts are $1,000 per semester or $2,000 per academic year. Applicants must write an essay on his/her journalism career goals, provide samples of published writing and maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to receive the scholarship for a second semester. Participants are also required to complete an 8-week, expense paid, summer internship with The Cherokee Phoenix in Tahlequah, Okla.

The Major Ridge Award is available to Cherokee Nation citizens who will graduate high school in 2008 either within or outside the 14-county jurisdictional area of the tribe. The scholarship amount is $1,000 per semester or $2,000 per academic year. Applicants must write an essay on Major Ridge and maintain a 2.5 GPA in order to receive the award for a second semester.

The Nell Brown Memorial Award is a scholarship available to Cherokee citizens who are graduate students residing inside or outside the jurisdictional area of the Cherokee Nation. Applicants must be studying history, anthropology or archeology with an emphasis on American Indian or Cherokee studies. The award amount is $1,000 per semester or $2,000 per academic year and may be continued through the second year if participants maintain a 2.5 GPA.

The Red Clay Award is available to citizens of the Cherokee Nation who are an enrolled JOM student and will graduate within the tribe’s jurisdictional area. The scholarship amount is $1,000 per semester or $2,000 per academic year. Students maintaining a 2.5 GPA may be awarded for a second year.

The Tribal Council Award is available to Cherokee citizens who reside outside the Cherokee Nation’s jurisdictional boundaries. Applicants must be high school students who will graduate in 2008. The award amount is $1,000 per semester or $2,000 per academic year if the student maintains a 2.5 GPA in a higher education setting.

“CNEC is proud to provide each of these scholarship opportunities to Cherokee citizens,” Butler-Allen said. “In today’s society, an education could be the key to a promising, more financially stable future. CNEC supports Cherokee citizens in their efforts to improve their lives and communities through education. Once again, I would like to encourage eligible citizens to apply for educational assistance through one or more of our scholarship opportunities.”

For more information or scholarship applications contact, phone: 918-453-5420 or send an e-mail Margaret Raymond.