Scholarships & Awards

The Waḣpeṭuƞwiƞ Daḳota Iapi Scholarship is a financial aid program for degree-seeking undergraduates who demonstrate strong dedication to learning how to speak and teach the Dakota language.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be admitted or pending admission to an undergraduate degree program in American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Selection criteria

Selection is based on evidence of your

• Academic promise.
• Commitment to learning how to speak and teach the Dakota language—or how you use your education to the benefit of the community.

Preference

You receive preference if you

• Are of Dakota or Lakota heritage.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Are a parent of a child in a Dakota language immersion program.

Award information

Scholarship awards cover up to $10,000 of your tuition and fees for one year. If awarded, you must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to keep your scholarship.

The Continuing Education Daḳota Iapi Scholarship is a financial aid program for continuing education (non-degree seeking) students at the University of Minnesota who demonstrate dedication to learning and teaching the Dakota language.

Selection criteria

Selection is based on evidence of your commitment to learning the Dakota language and to using your education to the benefit of the community.

Preference

Preference is given if you are a student of Dakota or Lakota heritage or a parent of a child in a Dakota language immersion program.

Award information

Scholarships cover your tuition for one Dakota language (DAKO) course per semester for up to two semesters. If you receive this award, you must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to keep your scholarship.

The College of Liberal Arts offers scholarships, currently enrolled in CLA. Each year, academically talented CLA students receive scholarships based on need or merit.

To apply for CLA Scholarships, complete the application for the College of Liberal Arts Continuing Student Scholarships.

The Libertus-Rice Transfer Scholarship is intended to support recruitment of Native American transfer students to the College of Liberal Arts, especially those from a tribal college or university.

Eligibility

You must be Native American through tribal enrollment or by affiliation/lineage, with verifiable documentation either:

• Be enrolled (or be in the process of enrolling) as a transfer undergraduate student at  at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

• Have transferred (or be in the process of transferring) from a tribal college.
   

Requirements

You must

• Take (or must have taken) at least one American Indian studies course.

• Remain in good academic standing to receive the full amount of the award, which will be dispersed in five increments.
   

Selection criteria

Applicants will be chosen on the combined basis of financial need and potential to help build relations between UMN and tribal communities.

Application materials

Your application will have three components.

• Personal Statement (see instructions below)
• Unofficial transcripts from UMN and other colleges where you have been enrolled
• One letter of recommendation from a non-family member
   

Personal statement instructions

In one to two pages maximum, introduce

• Yourself, making sure to identify your tribal enrollment in, or your affiliation to, a specific Native American community. If you are not enrolled, explain the basis of your affiliation (how are you related to that community).

• Your need for financial assistance.

• Why you chose UMN and how your choice of studies here might help you serve your tribal community and efforts to build relations between it (or Native Americans in general) and UMN.

• American Indian College Fund
• American Indian Education Foundation
• American Indian Graduate Center
• Gates Millenium Scholars Program
• Udall Undergraduate Scholarships
• Cobell Scholarship