Building Sustainability Pathways
Student Fellowship Application
The Fellowship & Goals
The American Indian College Fund is awarding 14 student fellowships for Native American students who
attend or have previously attended tribal colleges and universities in Montana, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and are currently pursuing a 4-year degree. The Building
Sustainability Pathways Student Fellowship will provide financial aid assistance; an internship and
student research opportunity, and provide faculty mentors. The fellowship will provide $5,000 per
school year for 2 years to use towards a bachelor degree, in total $10,000. The internship will be a
summer commitment of 1 to 2 summers depending on the fellows’ graduation date. An additional
stipend of $4,000 will be given for summer internship research projects. The total award is for $14,000.
The goal of this fellowship is to promote environmental sustainability in tribal communities that leads to
systemic change. Student fellowship applicants should have a vested interest in the sustainability of the
environment as well as traditional ecological knowledge and practices. Students in the fields of
Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Ecology are targeted
for applicants, but all majors relating to the Environment are encouraged to apply.
Summer Research Internship
Selected fellows must participate in an internship as part of the fellowship requirements. The internship
will be a summer research project at a tribal college. This may be part of an academic program or
supported as a research project by partner tribal or local environmental/natural resource/ wildlife
management organizations. The research project will ideally have academic credit. Selected fellows
must check with faculty to see if credit can be obtained under an independent study course if it is not
provided as a regular course or program already.
The research internship will be located at a tribal college, a local tribal program, or other research based
opportunity placement within the tribal community that extends the student’s content knowledge to
include applied research in their degree area of expertise. The research project will be in collaboration
with tribal college faculty or a professional in a related field who will work with the student interns to
identify courses that are relevant to your research project and to include cultural knowledge.
The goal is to create research projects that are meaningful and relevant to student’s tribal communities.
These research projects are vital to improving community environments and the health of tribal people.
By educating tribal communities about environmental issues and working together as a community,
tribal communities can build and utilize better land and resource management systems.
Intergenerational passage of traditional knowledge can be used to improve and preserve lands and
natural resources and teach this knowledge and practices with multiple generations of tribal people.
Any questions can be directed to Tanksi Clairmont, TCU Program
Administrator at tclairmont@collegefund.org or 303.426.8900.
Eligibility Criteria and requirements:
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Native American student attending or previously attended and still maintain affiliation with a
tribal college in MT, ND, SD, MN, or WI
Have at least 2 year left before completion of Bachelor’s degree
Commit to earning 4-year degree
Commit to summer research internship in student’s tribal community
Commit to participating in annual student fellows meetings at the American Indian Higher
Education Consortium Conference
Checklist of application materials:
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Student Fellowship Application (attached below)
College transcripts with a minimum GPA of 2.5
Proof of acceptance to a 4-year degree program in environmental sciences or sustainability field
Letters of recommendation from 2 of the following:
o Faculty members
o Community members
o Tribal college/university leadership (such as President, Vice President, Dean of College)
An agreement with a faculty mentor – you will need 2 if the school you’re attending is not a
tribal college; 1 from the tribal college and 1 from the 4 year degree school.
Statement of Purpose
o Max of 2,000 words
o Addressing why you want to be a fellow/why you are applying
o Describing what are the most critical issues about environmental sustainability in your
community and in general
o Describing your personal and academic background
o What are your educational and career goals? For yourself? For your community?
o How will this fellowship help you achieve these goals?
o Anything else you would like the selection committee to know about you
Statement of Commitment to complete a degree
o This must include a proposal for your summer research project/internship
o If accepted as a fellow, a conjoint Statement of Commitment will be created with the
American Indian College Fund and signed by you
Completed applications should be sent electronically or by mail to
Tanksi Clairmont - TCU Programs Administrator - tclairmont@collegefund.org
American Indian College Fund
8333 Greenwood Blvd
Denver, CO 80221
Student Fellowship Application
Full Name
Date of Birth
Gender
Permanent Address
Address while at school
Phone Number
email
Are you an enrolled tribal member?
Tribal Affiliation
Year of High School Graduation
Tribal College or University
attending 2014-2015
Declared Major
Current Degree Program (AA, AS, BA, BS, etc.)
Semester started (MM/YY)
Expected Graduation
If you are
NOT
currently in a
Bachelors
degree
program
Intended School for Bachelors
Intended Bachelor’s Degree Program (BA, BS)
Intended Major
Expected Graduation Date for Bachelors Degree
Number of college credit hours earned to date
How many credit hours until Bachelor’s degree earned?
Hometown Newspaper
Has either of your parents graduated with a Bachelors degree?
Marital Status (single, married, widowed)
Number of dependents you take care of (under 18)
Are you a veteran?
Dates served
Are you currently or previously employed by a Tribal College?
If yes,
Name of Tribal College
Job Title
How long did you/have you worked there
List in chronological order all the colleges and universities you’ve attended to present day
School Name
Dates Attended
Degree
Major
Year Left and Reason
List all community involvement and volunteer work
List all scholarship, awards and distinctions you’ve received
List what courses you’ve taken in writing, math, science and English in college, and any Bridge or College
readiness programs you’ve participated in.
Signature_______________________________________________ Date_____________________