NAFOA

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NAFOA Scholarship

NAFOA is dedicated to supporting Native people pursuing their education. We are pleased to offer the following merit-based scholarships to Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students for the 2011-2012 academic year:

• One MBA Scholarship at $1,500 plus Conference Travel Valued at $1,000
• One Undergraduate Scholarship at $1,000 plus Conference Travel Valued at $1,000
• Two Tribal College Scholarships at $500

The MBA and Undergraduate Scholarship will be awarded during a formal luncheon at our Spring Finance Conference for Indian Country held March 20-21, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Undergraduate and MBA students must attend the presentation in order to receive the scholarship. Students should also factor in travel time to arrive at the conference. NAFOA will cover travel and lodging costs. Tribal college students are not required to attend the presentation and their awards will be mailed.

Awards are based upon academic merit, demonstrated involvement within the Native American community and demonstrated commitment to improving indigenous communities through a career in finance.

Requirements

Students must provide proof of tribal enrollment or descendancy.
Students must be enrolled as full-time at an accredited institution in the United States.
Students must have already declared their major in one of the following areas: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or Finance.
Students must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
After notification of an award, students must provide an electronic photograph to include in NAFOA materials and on our website. The photograph may also be used on NAFOA partner websites and in partner materials.

Deadline
The postmark deadline for applications is January 6, 2012. Applications should be mailed to:
Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA)
1101 30th Street, NW Suite 500
Washington, DC 20007

Application
To obtain a copy of the application, click here:

2010-11 NAFOA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
In 2010, the Native American Finance Officers Association received nearly 100 scholarship applications. Due to the large number of scholarship applications that we received this year, the Board of Directors at NAFOA increased scholarship awards from $10,000 to $22,000.

In total, the Board awarded 23 scholarships to assist Native American and Alaska Native students with tuition and other academic expenses.

NAFOA Scholars

Justin Bennett
Justin is a member of the Cayuga Nation. He is currently earning an MBA at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. He also serves as the Executive Director of Housing for the Cayuga Nation. Justin would like to continue working for his Tribe after he graduates. He believes a degree in business will provide him with the knowledge and skills he needs to promote economic development in his Tribal community.

Jackson Brossy
Jackson is a member of the Navajo Nation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. Jackson worked for the National Congress of American Indians as a Legislative Associate and Blue Stone Strategy Group as a Senior Strategist.

Jennifer Kolden
Jennifer is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes.She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Minnesota State University. Jennifer has worked as a Marketing Specialist and Assistant Analyst for Securian Financial Group. She is currently pursuing an MBA at Augsburg College. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce and the St. Paul Public Schools Indian Education Program.

Leland Lopez
Leland is a member of the Navajo Nation. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. He is currently enrolled in an MBA program at the University of Utah. Leland is an accomplished dancer and musician. He plays the piano and violin and has toured with the BYU Living Legends as a dancer and section leader.

Alicia Ortega
Alicia is a member of the Santa Clara and Pojoaque Pueblos. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico. Shortly after graduation, she began working on her master’s degree in Marketing and Technology Management at the University of New Mexico’s Anderson Graduate School of Management. Alicia is an artist with very strong ties to her Tribal community. She plans to work for her Tribe or a Native American owned business after she completes her degree program.

Josiah Spurr
Josiah is a member of the Potawatomi Nation. He is pursuing a master’s degree in Finance at the University of Rochester. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Brandeis University. Josiah began working for his Tribe at an early age as a Web Consultant and would like to continue working for his Tribe after he graduates.

Allard Teeple
Allard is a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community. He received a NAFOA scholarship last year and was invited to attend NAFOA’s 28th Annual Finance Conference for Indian Country. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Business and Accounting at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Michigan State University. He participates in the Native American Indigenous Student Organization and the Multicultural Business Program on campus.

NAFOA Scholars – Undergraduate Students

Lorrena Alameda
Lorrena is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. Two years ago, she earned an associate’s degree from the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute and then transferred to Mount Marty College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Lorrena is a new mother who will graduate next spring and plans to begin working for her Tribe. She was honorably discharged from the US Army in 2008 after serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jessica Alcon
Jessica is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes. She has been studying accounting and economics at the University of North Dakota for nearly two years. She has a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. In addition to being a full-time student, Jessica is also a wife and mother whose long-term goals include working for her Tribe’s Business Council.

Sydney Birdinground
Sydney is a member of the Crow Nation. She graduated from Little Big Horn College last spring where she earned an associate’s degree in Business Management. Currently, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business at the University of Montana. Sydney is a jewelry maker who would like to turn her hobby into a successful business venture. She believes furthering her education at the University of Montana will help her achieve this goal.

Robert Gonzales
Robert is a descendant of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. Currently, he is pursuing a business degree at the University of Phoenix. In addition to being a full-time student, he is a husband and father with two young children. He also serves as the Education Program Assistant for the Chumash Tribe and was honorably discharged from the US Navy in 2008.

Ariel Knutsen
Ariel is Koliganek. She earned an associate’s degree in Business from the University of Fairbanks while working full-time. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Colorado to pursue a business degree at Fort Lewis College. Eventually, she would like to earn an MBA and begin working for a Tribally-owned corporation.

Allison Sarracino
Allison is a member of the Laguna Pueblo. She is a senior at the University of New Mexico majoring in Business Administration. She helped establish the American Indian Business Leaders (AIBIL) chapter on campus and currently serves as president of the organization. She led fundraising efforts to send her team to the 2010 AIBIL National Conference and helped raise $4,500 to address hunger for the Meal Exchange Program.

Lane Simpson
Lane is a member of the Crow Nation. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Management at the University of Mary. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Apsaalooke Drug and Alcohol Recovery Center.

Clarence Smith
Clarence is a member of the Blackfeet Nation. He is a junior majoring in Business Administration at Fort Lewis College. In addition to being a full-time student, he is a single father who teaches parenting classes for the Native American Fatherhood and Families Association.

LaTanya Teller
LaTanya is a member of the Navajo Nation and the Apache Mescalero Nation. She is currently pursuing a Business degree at the University of Phoenix and working full-time as a tax-liason at the Tribal casino. She plans to continue working in Indian gaming.

Katrina Woodman
Katrina is Tlingit. She is a freshman at the University of Washington majoring in Business Administration. She recently participated in the Boeing Internship Program. She is a strong athlete who plays soccer and volleyball and participates in rowing and track and field.

NAFOA Scholars – Tribal College Students

Lora GreyBear
Lora is a member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe. She is a first generation college student working on an associate’s degree in Business at United Tribes Technical College. She expects to graduate from UTTC this semester and return home to the Spirit Lake Reservation to work for her Tribe.

Vera Julius
Vera is a member of the Lummi Nation. She is a single mother with three children. Currently, she is pursuing a business degree at Northwest Indian College. Eventually, she would like to obtain an MBA and work for the Lummi Business Council.

Jessica McClain
Jessica is a descendant of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. She attends Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College full-time and works at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort part-time. She is also a wife and mother with an infant son. Despite facing several health challenges this past year, Jessica is prepared to graduate this spring with an associate’s degree in Business.

Curt Pahmahmie-DeVader
Curt is a member of the Potawatomi Nation. He is a sophomore at Haskell Indian Nations University majoring in Business Management. He spent this past summer interning for his Tribe and hopes to secure a permanent, full-time position with his Tribe once he earns his bachelor’s degree.

Sabrina Pablo
Sabrina is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is currently pursuing an associate’s degree at Navajo Technical College. She is a first generation college student who hopes to use her accounting degree to serve her Tribal community.

2009-2010 Scholarship Recipients

2008-2009 Scholarship Recipients

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