Cherokee Phoenix Feb. 1, 2019

2019

EDUCATION GUIDE

FAFSA: A GOOD FIRST STEP S

tudents applying to or currently attending a college or university can apply with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine eligibility for federal financial aid and help pay for their higher education.

“Financial aid is determined based on the FAFSA. It’s important to complete the application so that the student eligibility may be calculated for federal grants, federals student loans and state aid,” Cynthia Bendabout, Northeastern State University assistant director of student financial aid, said.

Bendabout said Oklahoma aid consists of the Oklahoma Promise scholarship and Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant. She said the Oklahoma Promise and OTAG are need-based aid plans and students cannot be eligible to apply or receive funds from either until theirs FAFSAs are completed or processed.

“I need to clarify that FAFSA is just the application that’s used to determine student eligibility and the need for federal and state aid. Financial aid, based on that determination, can be used to pay tuition, fees, room, board and other authorized institutional charges,” Bendabout said.

At NSU, she said, financial aid funds are dispersed to the student’s bursar account that retains their tuition costs, fees, room charges, board and other expenses.

“So that’s where the charges are located. Financial aid funds are dispersed there and paid on those eligible expenses,” she said.

The date students can begin filling out the FAFSA for the next school year is on Oct. 1, according to studentaid.ed.gov. Bendabout said the earlier students apply for financial aid the better.

Bendabout listed some general eligibility requirements found on the website to apply for the FAFSA that include, but are not limited to, demonstrating a financial need for higher education, being a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, enrolled in an eligible degree program (required by NSU) or eligible certification and meeting the institution’s satisfactory progress requirement. Also, the

D. SEAN ROWLEY/CHEROKEE PHOENIX Northeastern State University student Chelsey Karstens uses one of the Student Financial Services computers. The stations can be used to access information regarding financial aid.

student cannot be in default with a federal student loan.

A common roadblock students face when filling out the FAFSA application is trying to understand what tax return information is needed. Bendabout said students could now use “prior, prior” tax returns to submit with their applications.

“There is a lot of confusion whenever is comes to the taxes. The good thing is they’ve changed it.

Years ago it was where you were using the previous year’s taxes. Now they’ve made a couple of changes to applying, completing your FAFSA and applying for federal aid. So now we use prior, prior year,” Bendabout said.

She said this means that when the application opened up on Oct. 1 for the 2019-20 school year, students were allowed to use 2017 tax return information instead of the 2018 tax information.

“So that’s helped to alleviate some of that to where in the past when we were just using prior year taxes, they are trying to start their FAFSA form in January or February but their parents haven’t filed yet until a little bit further into the first part of the year. So there was a lot more of the ‘will file.’ There’s not as much now because we’re using prior, prior year,”

Bendabout said.

One new feature the U.S. Department of Education added in October to make FAFSA application easier is releasing a mobile app that students can download to their mobile devices or tablets and apply from those devices rather than from a computer or laptop.

“It’s real intuitive and seems to flow through a little bit easier than what’s completed when they’re doing it through the browser. The app is in the app store listed as My Student Aid. It’s a little blue icon and displays federal student aid on the icon. It will adjust to fit the device that the app’s been installed on. So that’s one of the exciting features that was recently released. We’ve had some great feedback on it,” Bendabout said.

For more info or to apply, visit studentaid.ed.gov.

LINDSEY BARK Reporter

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CHEROKEE PHOENIX • FEBRUARY 1, 2019

EDUCATION• ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

ᏣᎳᎩ ᏧᎴᎯᏌᎤᎯ • ᎧᎦᎵ 1, 2019

ᎧᎦᎵ 1, 2019 • ᏣᎳᎩ ᏧᎴᎯᏌᎤᎯ

EDUCATION• ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • CHEROKEE PHOENIX

ACT, COLLEGE PREP CAMPS

CHEROKEE NATION FOUNDATION

C

ollege-bound Cherokee students who want to add punch to their applications are invited to apply to a pair of annual camps the Cherokee Nation Foundation organizes.

Open to high school juniors and seniors, the ACT Prep Camp is June 3-8, and students preparing for the college application process can attend the Cherokee College Prep Institute on July 14-19.

The camps are on Northeastern State University’s Tahlequah campus and open to any Cherokee student in the United States. Space is limited.

ACT Prep provides 15 hours of instruction before students take the official test at its conclusion.

Campers stay in student housing during the week.

“They are matched with another person and get to experience a week of college life,” Jennifer Sandoval, CNF program coordinator, said. “Years ago, I was trained to teach the Princeton Review curriculum, and that is what (the campers) receive.

They go through about three or four hours of prep a day, and we teach the different approaches to taking the ACT, including process of elimination and time management.”

Sandoval said the camps remove some anxiety associated with taking the ACT and help students gain familiarity and comfort.

“We also teach them that you can focus on your strengths,” she said. “You don’t need spectacular scores through the top on all four tests.”

Students attend workshops on topics of scholarships, financial aid, essay writing and admissions. Applications to the ACT Prep are accepted April 1-21. There is no fee to attend. Camp costs are covered via a CNF and NSU partnership.

“We do ask if they are flying or driving in that they pay for their travel expenses, but once the students are here, we pay for everything,” she said.

The Cherokee College Prep Institute allows students to meet with admissions officials from universities across the country. Attendees can examine their schools of interest and scholarship opportunities and receive advice on completing college applications.

Yale University sophomore Sophia Ross, a 2017 graduate of La Jolla (Califorina) High School, attended the 2016 CCPI at Rogers State University in Claremore.

“It is important for people to know how great an opportunity CCPI is for Native students, not just Cherokee students in Oklahoma, but in the rest of the country,” said Ross, who plans to major in neuropsychology and pre-med. “It is important for kids like me, who are not from Oklahoma, to know those camps are there to help us prepare for our futures.”

Ross said many Native students do not have access to college advisers due to costs. At CCPI, she had one-on-one conversations and instruction with admissions officers from several schools, including Ivy League universities. She said she was given information she otherwise “would have had no idea about.”

“At the camp, the most memorable thing was

ARCHIVE Jennifer Sandoval, Cherokee Nation Foundation program coordinator, teaches an ACT Prep Class in March 2018 at Carl Albert State College’s Sallisaw campus to area high school students. The ACT Prep Class gives students the opportunity to take pre-tests before they take the actual exams. speaking to an adviser,” Ross said. “I had no belief that I would be able to get into these schools. She read my essay and said I had a high chance of getting in, and that she wanted to help me improve to make that possibility even higher. I actually believed in myself that I could do it.”

All materials, lodging and meals are covered at CCPI, and there is no fee to attend. While Oklahoma schools are always well represented, the CCPI also attracts universities outside the state.

“We try to tell students that during college prep they may find out that going to an Ivy school or private school can be less expensive than attending an in-state school,” Sandoval said. “If you are a firstgeneration college student or Native, there are a lot of scholarships. It may not be the case that you need to stay close to home. When we do the financial aid presentation, there might be only one scholarship available for an in-state school, while you can get nearly a full ride to a Duke or a Penn.”

CCPI applications are accepted March 1 to May 15.

“We try to take applicants first-come, first served, but we do require them to write an essay, so there is a little competition,” Sandoval said. “We also take into consideration why they want to attend the camps.”

Janice Randall, CNF executive director, said every effort is made to ensure the camps give students head starts on college admissions.

“Jennifer doesn’t like to brag, but she is young and she bonds with these students,” Randall said. “The camps are very intense and the students work on them all day long. We have had students that really improve their scores on the ACT, sometimes by as much as 10 points in a subject area.”

Applications for both camps are available at cherokeenationfoundation.org. For more information, call 918-207-0950 or email contact@ cherokeenationfoundation.org or visit the CNF at 800 S. Muskogee Ave. in Tahlequah.

D. SEAN ROWLEY Senior Reporter

“They go through about three or four hours of prep a day, and we teach the different approaches to taking the ACT, including process of elimination and time management.”

Jennifer Sandoval, CNF program coordinator

APPLY EARLY AND OFTEN

SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH

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he formula for a successful scholarship search is timing plus persistence, according to education experts and students.

“It’s free money for college or career school,” the U.S. Department of Education states.

“Scholarships are gifts. They don’t need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.”

The department’s advice is to “find and apply for as many scholarships as you can.”

To support her higher education ambitions, Sequoyah High School graduate and Cherokee Nation citizen Katelyn Morton, 19, landed eight scholarships, several of which were tribal-related.

“Paying for college is a very time-consuming and economically consuming thing for a household,” Morton, an Oklahoma City University freshman, said. “So, I wanted to go where I had my scholarships.”

Morton’s scholarship quest began in the fall of her senior year with online searches and conversations with school leaders.

“To be honest, I probably should have started earlier,” she said. “There are a lot of scholarships

out there. Just fill out every scholarship you can, no matter the amount. Fill out the little ones, as well as the major ones.”

Cara Cowan Watts, president of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s Oklahoma chapter, suggests the scholarship process can begin as early as kindergarten “because everything builds on each grade.”

“For transcripts, grades ninth through 12th typically count when seeking entrance to college and scholarships which might be associated with your choice of college and major,” she said.

Watts, a CN citizen and former tribal councilor with diverse engineering degrees, hosts a scholarship workshop focused on tribal citizens.

Don’t be shy and “give them extra (information)” when filling out scholarship applications, Watts suggests as a tip.

“Don’t be too modest,” she added. “Show them that you need it. Get references. Just because they did not ask does not mean they could not use them.”

The website scholarships.com advises high school students against waiting until their senior year to apply for scholarships.

“If you do begin during your senior year, you should start as early as possible,” the site

recommends. “Many scholarships have deadlines in January, so the sooner you begin the more you will have a chance at winning. Ideally, students should begin searching for scholarships during their junior year, around mid-year.”

Some deadlines are as early as a year before college starts, according to the federal education agency.

“So if you’re in high school now, you should be researching and applying for scholarships during the summer between your junior and senior years,” the agency suggests. “But if you’ve missed that window, don’t give up. Look at scholarship information to see which ones you can still apply for now.”

For information regarding the scholarship programs the CN College Resource Center administers, call 1-800-256-0671, ext. 5465 or email collegeresources@cherokee.org or visit cherokee. org/Service/Education/College-Resources.

The 2019-20 applications will be available March 1.

Scholarship recipients are required to perform one volunteer hour of community service for every $100 received. Apply online at scholarships.cherokee.org.

CHAD HUNTER Reporter

“There are a lot of scholarships out there. Just fill out every scholarship you can, no matter the amount. Fill out the little ones, as well as the major ones.”

Katelyn Morton, Oklahoma City University freshman

Native American Scholarships

• Full Circle Scholarship: Administered by the American Indian College Fund for American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduates students attending tribal colleges and state and private universities. Deadline is May 31. Visit collegefund.org.

• Undergraduate Scholarship: Administered by the American Indian Education Fund for Native American students enrolled full-time in an accredited two- or four-year university or vocational school. Deadline is April 4. Visit nativepartnership.org.

• Graduate Scholarship: Administered by the American Indian Education Fund for Native American students enrolled fulltime in an accredited two- or four-year university or vocational school. Deadline is April 4. Visit nativepartnership.org.

ARCHIVE Cherokee Nation citizen Cara Cowan Watts speaks at a scholarship workshop in 2013 in Claremore. She suggests that the scholarship process can begin as early as kindergarten “because everything builds on each grade.”

• Wells Fargo Scholarship: For American Indian and Alaska Native students. Requires a current GPA of 2.7 or higher with up to $5,000 for one year of study in any chosen major at any accredited institution in the United States. Must be an enrolled citizen of a federally recognized American Indian tribe, Alaska Native group or a state recognized tribe. Deadline is May 1.

Visit aigcs.org/scholarships.

• Veterinary Medicine Scholarship: The Wilson-Hooper Veterinary Medicine Assistance Program gives scholarships to students who maintain a B average pursuing veterinary medicine and veterinary technician degrees. Must be an enrolled citizen of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group. Deadline is May 1. Visit aigcs.org/ scholarships.

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CHEROKEE PHOENIX • FEBRUARY 1, 2019

EDUCATION• ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

ᏣᎳᎩ ᏧᎴᎯᏌᎤᎯ • ᎧᎦᎵ 1, 2019

NATIVE-SPECIFIC SOURCES

AWARD OPPORTUNITIES

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inority and Native American-specific scholarships are available for those pursuing a higher education.

Such scholarships are available through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the American Indian College Fund and Cherokee Nation.

The Gates Scholarship • Funds students who are Native American/ Alaska Native, African-American, Asian and Pacific Islander or Hispanic American.

• Eliminates financial barriers for students wanting to attend college by providing an allexpenses paid scholarship for Pell-eligible, minority high school seniors.

• Students must be United States citizens, nationals or permanent residents and in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

• Students must plan to enroll full time in a fouryear degree program at a U.S.-accredited, not-forprofit, private or public college or university.

For more information or to apply visit thegatesscholarship.org.

American Indian College Fund • The Full Circle Scholarship provides scholarships to Native American and Alaska Native students seeking undergraduate or graduate degrees at tribal colleges and universities. This scholarship

program provides scholarships ranging from $450 to full rides per year dependent on funds. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens or Canadian citizens, enrolled full-time in certificate, associate, bachelor’s or graduate programs at an accredited tribal, public or private colleges or universities, must be enrolled citizens of federally or state recognized tribes and have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. • Tribal College & University Scholarship provides scholarships for 35 tribal colleges and universities in the U.S. TCU Scholarships are awarded on a per semester basis and eligibility is similar to Full Circle Scholarships. TCU Scholarships start at $500 per semester For more information visit collegefund.org or email scholarships@collegefund.org.

Cherokee Nation College Resource Center • The Concurrent Enrollment Scholarship is provided to high school junior or seniors taking required general education courses at colleges or universities while still in high school. This scholarship provides financial aid for tuition, books and fees for up to six hours of courses.

• The Valedictorian and Salutatorian Scholarship is a one-time scholarship provided to high school seniors who are named valedictorian or salutatorian. Valedictorians receive up to $1,000 and salutatorians receive up to $750.

• The Undergraduate Scholarship is provided

for students working toward an associate of arts, associate of science or bachelor’s degree. Students must apply with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid upon applying for this scholarship. Up to $2,000 per semester is awarded and student must maintain at least a 2.0 and one hour of community service is required per $100 received.

• The Graduate Scholarship is provided to students seeking masters’ or doctorate degrees. Up to $2,000 per semester is awarded and students must remain in good standing with the college they are attending.

• The Directed Studies Scholarship is provided to students seeking post undergraduate degrees in a specific area of study that aims to strengthen the CN government and economy. This scholarship is limited to a University of Oklahoma rate of an equivalent degree. For example, if a student is studying to become a doctor, dentist or lawyer and do not choose to attend OU, College Resources will pay up to the equivalent of OU’s rate for tuition, books, fees and any required equipment a housing stipend.

Scholarships are available for CN citizens who reside within the 14-county jurisdiction and qualify for the federal Pell grant through FAFSA. For more information, visit cherokee.org/Services/ Education/College-Resources.

LINDSEY BARK Reporter

INDIGENOUS RATES DROP

ATTENDANCE & GRADUATION

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tudies show that rates for Native Americans attending and graduating from college are dropping.

Helen Oliff, of Partnerships of Native Americans, said while 28 percent of Americans have completed college, only 13 percent of Native Americans hold degrees.

“From elementary to post-secondary school, 35 percent of Native youth grow up in impoverishment,” Oliff said. “Life without a college degree can often mean hardship and lost opportunity. Four-year college grads earn $1 million more in a lifetime, and two-year college grads earn $10,000 more per year than someone who only graduates high school.”

According to The Postsecondary National Policy Institute, the national average of college graduation from a public four-year institution within four years is 19 percent. The national average increases to 35 percent when the years it takes to graduate a fouryear institution hits six.

College enrollment for Native Americans ages 18 to 24 fell between 2015-16 and 2016-17, according to the PNPI. It also states the higher education participation rate for Native Americans fell from 23 percent in 2015-16 to 19 percent 2016-17. In 2000, 30 percent of Native Americans between the ages of 25 and 29 acquired at least an associate’s or bachelor’s

degree. In 2017, that percentage fell to 27 percent, according to the PNPI. Despite these trends, there are resources that can help the Native American attendance and graduation rates increase.

The Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Foundation have scholarships that help Cherokee high school seniors get into college and keep student debt down.

Most of these scholarships require students to maintain a 3.0 GPA. Cherokee high school seniors can visit the College Resources Center at the CN Tribal Complex for help with scholarships.

The American Indian Graduate Center and American Indian College Fund both contribute scholarships to the Native American community.

Scholarships awarded by these organizations range from easily obtainable scholarships to prestigious scholarships.

Their efforts are to help Native American high school students seek higher education in both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The AIGC is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the AICF is in Denver.

Northeastern State University has been helping Native American students stay in college through a federally funded five-year Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions grant that helped create the

Native American Support Center.

In this program, Native students can find tutors to help with homework, talk to advisors to set up classes and get help to de-stress in times of need.

“Not all Native students know we exist on campus. We always do our best to reach those who identify as Native American,” NASC Director Shelly Dreadfulwater said. “The total percentage of (NSU) Native student enrollment increased between the fall of 2017-18 from 35 percent to 37 percent, which equated to approximately 100 students more. Our main goal at NSU is to keep this trend going by focusing on the retention and graduation rates of our Native students.”

NSU, located in the CN capital of Tahlequah, does everything it can to accommodate Cherokee students and students from other tribes to help them get through the culture shock of being away from home.

Helping them embrace Native culture at NSU and providing Native mentors are two of the ways NSU helps these students.

For more information about Cherokee scholarships, visit scholarships.cherokee.org or cherokeenationfoundation.org. For more information about AIGC or AIEF, visit aigc.org or collegefund.org.

GRANT NEUGIN Reporter

EDUCATION• ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

ᎧᎦᎵ 1, 2019 • ᏣᎳᎩ ᏧᎴᎯᏌᎤᎯ

FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • CHEROKEE PHOENIX

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Cherokee Phoenix FEBRUARY 1, 2019 Volume 43, No. 3

The Cherokee Phoenix is published monthly by the Cherokee Nation, PO Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465.

Application to mail at Periodicals postage rates is pending at Tahlequah, OK 74464.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cherokee Phoenix, PO Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465

Editorial Staff Brandon Scott

Executive Editor brandon-scott@cherokee.org 918-453-5000 ext 7258

Travis Snell

Assistant Editor travis-snell@cherokee.org 918-453-5358

Will Chavez

Assistant Editor will-chavez@cherokee.org 918-207-3961

Mark Dreadfulwater

Multimedia Editor mark-dreadfulwater@cherokee.org 918-453-5087

Reporters D. Sean Rowley

Senior Reporter david-rowley@cherokee.org 918-453-5560

Lindsey Bark

Reporter lindsey-bark@cherokee.org 918-453-5000, ext 4223

Chad Hunter

Reporter chad-hunter@cherokee.org 918-453-5000, ext 7256

Grant Neugin

Reporter grant-neugin@cherokee.org 918-453-5000, ext 7365

Multimedia Staff Roger Graham

Multimedia Producer roger-graham@cherokee.org 918-207-3969

Administrative Staff Dena Tucker

Administrative Officer dena-tucker@cherokee.org 918-453-5324

Joy Rollice

Administrative Assistant joy-rollice@cherokee.org 918-453-5269

Samantha Cochran

Advertising Specialist samantha-cochran@cherokee.org 918-207-3825

Terris Howard

Advertising Representative terris-howard@cherokee.org 918-453-5743

Justin Smith

Distribution Specialist justin-smith@cherokee.org 918-207-4975

Editorial Board Lauren Jones Cusick Kendra McGeady Maxie Thompson Brenda Thompson Ceciley Thomason-Murphy Cherokee Phoenix P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465 (918) 453-5269 FAX: (918) 207-0049 1-800-256-0671 www.cherokeephoenix.org ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Within the United States: $15 for one year Please contact us at the number above to subscribe.

Mail subscriptions and changes of address to the Cherokee Phoenix, P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465, phone 918-207-4975. Please include the words “Change of Address” or “Subscription” on the envelope.

ARCHIVE Marisa Hambleton, Cherokee Nation Foundation executive assistant, assists Northeastern State University students with their CNF applications during a scholarship workshop on Nov. 28, 2017, in the John Vaughn Library on NSU’s campus in Tahlequah.

CNF SCHOLARSHIPS

AWARD OPPORTUNITIES

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he Cherokee Nation Foundation is a nonprofit organization serving the Cherokee Nation by providing Cherokee students educational opportunities so they can reach their full potential.

The organization fulfills its mission by offering the following scholarships to help reverse the trend of student debt.

Anna Belle Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Applicant must be an undergraduate, graduate student or community member pursuing pottery making.

Three pictures of artwork must be submitted with the application. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens.

At-Large Tribal Council Award Applicant must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Must reside outside of the CN jurisdiction and be enrolled full time in a four-year, postsecondary institution.

This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens.

Audie Baker Memorial Scholarship Applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student with a minimum 3.0 GPA, majoring in special education at Northeastern State University. This is a one-year scholarship awarded in the fall semester reserved for CN citizens.

Bill Rabbit Legacy Art Scholarship Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited four-year, postsecondary institution pursuing a degree in fine arts or art education with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Accepted focuses include drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, traditional beadwork and textiles. Must submit three pictures of artwork. This is a renewable scholarship reserved for CN and United Keetoowah Band citizens residing within the CN jurisdiction.

Brent & Janees Taylor RSU Business Scholarship Applicant must be an undergraduate student majoring in business at Rogers State University with a minimum 2.5 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship given in the fall semester to a CN citizen residing in Rogers or Mayes counties.

District 6 & 8 Carl Albert John Lance Kelley Memorial Scholarship Applicant must be enrolled at Carl Albert State College in Sallisaw with a minimum 3.0 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship given in the fall semester to a CN citizen residing in Adair or Sequoyah counties.

Charles Alan Beauchamp Scholarship Applicant must be a first-generation

undergraduate student majoring in an approved environmental field with a minimum 3.0 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens residing within the CN jurisdiction.

Cherokee Nation Businesses Scholarship Applicant must be enrolled full time and accepted into a professional, master’s, upper-level bachelor’s program or school with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Approved study areas include accounting, finance, engineering (biomedical, chemical, mechanical and electrical), corporate law, marketing and mass communications. This is a renewable scholarship for CN citizens.

Cherokee Nation Foundation Scholarship Applicant must be enrolled at a junior college, community college or technical school with a minimum 3.0 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens, with preference given to students who participate in CNF programs such as Junior Achievement, NSU ACT Prep Camp, CCPI or ACT Prep classes.

Harold “Jiggs” Phillips Scholarship Applicant must be a graduating high school senior from an Adair County high school (Cave Springs, Stilwell, Watts or Westville) with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Student must enroll in a higher education institution the semester immediately following receipt of award.

This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens.

HP Engineering Inc. Scholarship Applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student who has a declared major in an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technologyaccredited engineering program and has been accepted as either an electrical or mechanical engineering major.

Applicant must have completed at least 60 credit hours or be an enrolled junior, senior, master’s or terminal doctorate student. Scholarship requires commitment to participate in a two-day job shadowing experience (one day fall/ one day spring) at HP Engineering Inc. offices in Tulsa and Rogers, Arkansas.

This is a one-year scholarship reserved for an enrolled citizen of CN, UKB or Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club Scholarship Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or undergraduate student with a minimum 2.5 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens.

James R. Upton Memorial Scholarship

Back Issues may be purchased for $2.50 postage and handling. Please inquire to make sure the issues are in stock by writing to Back Issues, Cherokee Phoenix, P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465; or calling 918-207-4975.

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Copyright 2018: The entire contents of the Cherokee Phoenix are fully protected by copyright unless otherwise noted and may be reproduced if the copyright is noted and credit is given to the Cherokee Phoenix, the writer and the photographer. Requests to reprint should be directed to the editor at the above address. Material provided through membership with Associated Press NewsFinder, identified by (AP), may not be reproduced without permission of the Associated Press.

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Native American Journalists Association

ARCHIVE Several Northeastern State University students begin completing Cherokee Nation Foundation online scholarship applications during a 2017 workshop hosted by CNF and NSU’s Native American Support Center.

Applicant must be a graduating high school senior from Sequoyah High School with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Student must enroll in a higher education institution the semester immediately following receipt of award.

This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens.

Kenneth Comer Scholarship Applicant must be a graduate student with a minimum 3.0 GPA majoring in psychology or counseling psychology that has the intent of becoming a licensed professional counselor or licensed drug and alcohol counselor.

This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens attending Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University or the University of Oklahoma. If enrolled at OU, student has the opportunity to serve as an intern at the Oklahoma Association for Problem and Compulsive Gambling office in Norman. OAPCG will pay for the certification of Problem Gambling Counselor.

Oklahoma State University/CNF Scholarship Applicant must be a current, full-time student or be a graduating high school senior accepted to the university. This award is reserved for CN citizens and is renewable for up to five years. Student must maintain a 3.0 GPA, stay in good standing with the university and pursue only one degree. A letter of reference is required for consideration.

Perruzi Family Scholarship Applicant must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA and enroll full time in a fouryear, postsecondary institution. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens residing within the CN jurisdiction.

Sequoyah High School Alumni Scholarship Applicant must be a graduating high school senior from SHS and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Student must enroll in a higher education institution the semester immediately following receipt of award. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens.

Senior Master Sergeant Texie C. Taylor USAF Memorial Scholarship Applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, nursing (RN), engineering (aerospace, civil, chemical, electrical or mechanical) or mathematics with a minimum 3.0 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens residing within the CN jurisdiction.

Susan B. Agnew Leoser Scholarship Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or undergraduate student with a minimum 2.0 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship reserved for CN citizens residing outside the CN jurisdiction and attending a junior college, community college or technical school. Preference is given to students who show a history of volunteer service.

University of Tulsa/CNF Scholarship Applicant must be a current, full-time student or be a graduating high school senior accepted to the university. This award is reserved for CN citizens and is renewable for up to five years. Student must maintain a 3.0 GPA, stay in good standing with the university and pursue only one degree. A letter of reference is required for consideration.

For more information, visit cherokeenationfoundation.org.

GRANT NEUGIN Reporter

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CHEROKEE PHOENIX • FEBRUARY 1, 2019

STUDENT LOANS

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EDUCATION• ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

ᏣᎳᎩ ᏧᎴᎯᏌᎤᎯ • ᎧᎦᎵ 1, 2019

LESSEN YOUR DEBT

t is now the second-largest category of debt in the United States, and some are calling it a crisis.

About 44 million borrowers owe a total of $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, according to economic research by the Federal Reserve – and those estimates don’t account for the classes of 2017 and 2018. About one in four American adults owe on student loans, and the average balance upon graduation is greater than $37,000, which is more than a 50 percent increase since before the 2008 recession, when many state legislatures cut university budgets over several years.

For Cherokee Nation citizens considering loans for college, there is some good news.

The Institute for College Access and Success reported Oklahoma has the 10th-lowest rate of average student loan debt. In-state students graduate with less than $25,000 owed.

Cherokee students can also contact CN College Resources about scholarship eligibility. There are also other opportunities such as endowed scholarships, federal and state grants for those in financial need and campus work-study to minimize debt upon graduation. Part-time jobs are also an option for those who can budget their time and keep up with their studies.

“Seek out all other forms of resources and aids before resorting to a loan,” Teri Cochran, Northeastern State University director of student financial services, said.

“Fill out applications for

About 1 in 4 American adults owe on student loans, and the average balance upon graduation is greater than $37,000.

grants and scholarships. When it comes to student loans, take out what you need – you may want a little extra for an emergency. You might use a student loan calculator. You will want to know what your salary might be in relation to your payment.

You want to be an informed borrower.”

Typically, students seeking financial aid fill out a Free Application of Federal Student Aid or FAFSA form. Many states, including Oklahoma, use FAFSA information when awarding grants or loans.

Cochran recommended submitting a completed form as soon as possible after Oct. 1 each year because many aid programs have limited funding.

The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant makes awards to qualifying students until funds are exhausted.

Colton Holmes, senior accounts receivable technician for NSU Bursar Services, said the financial needs of students vary but that “90 percent” take out loans in excess of their education expenses, with many borrowing as much as they are allowed.

“They may do that when they really only need $2,000 or $5,000 more,” Holmes said. “Non-traditional students may need a lot more to make housing payments or to support families. But that is always something I talk about with students. When I have someone who wants to take it all, I try to reiterate that if they don’t get that job right after graduating, they might be in a pickle.”

While students may do their utmost to find other sources to pay college expenses, then carefully calculate what they need to borrow and get the best interest deals, it still results in graduates carrying debt. Inevitably, some run into problems.

Dr. Jerrid Freeman is NSU’s vice president of student affairs, which houses the university’s financial aid, scholarship and admissions offices. He said student affairs staff members go to high schools with presentations and seminars about student loans.

“They aren’t as well attended as we would like,” Freeman said. “The reality is a lot of people don’t ask questions because at that time they are

just trying to figure out how to get in and aren’t as worried about the financial side. They want to get as much aid as they can. There are some who borrow more so they can still afford to go party, but you don’t need to do that. We want to give more advice to students because we know the cost of a college education, but we also know the value of it.

You don’t want to be cavalier about your financial situation, and you don’t want to be paying student loans when you are 35 or 40.”

When a student or graduate has financial difficulties there is a danger of default, but Freeman said there is no reason to run from student loan obligations.

“All they need to do is call and talk to the right people,” he said. “They can slow or lessen payments.

Default causes angst among students, and five or six years ago we probably had a default rate of 15 to 20 percent. Now it is down to about 5 or 10 percent.

We have created financial literacy programming, and I think that is part of why the default rate has gone down. We get more phone calls and emails to students with financial debt and try to be a better advocate. It’s not about getting the money, but being a support network. We want to understand students’ troubles and partner with them.”

Those having difficulties also need to maintain contact with those holding the debt.

“About 60 percent of NSU students take out some type of loan,” Cochran said. “I encourage them to work with their lenders. It always helps. There are several plans and options available, including forbearance and income-based repayment.”

For information on CN scholarships, visit CN College Services at https://www.cherokee. org/Services/Education/College-Resources. For information on other scholarships, grants and loans, visit NSU Student Financial Services https://offices. nsuok.edu/financialaid.

D. SEAN ROWLEY Senior Reporter

ᎧᎦᎵ 1, 2019 • ᏣᎳᎩ ᏧᎴᎯᏌᎤᎯ

EDUCATION• ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • CHEROKEE PHOENIX

COLLEGE ISN’T FOR ALL

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VOCATIONAL TRAINING

V

ocational training from health care to skilled construction trades can offer a cheaper, quicker path to the workforce in desirable fields that experts say pay well.

“College is not for everybody,” George Roach, Cherokee Nation Career Services vocational programs director, said. “Yes, it’s great to have a college degree. But not everybody can be a doctor or an attorney. So for them, vocational is the way to go.

We’ve got to have these guys – EMTs, bricklayers, carpenters.”

Also called career, technical or trade skills, vocational training typically offers a hands-on approach to jobs in two years or as little as two weeks.

“It’s for the working families that maybe don’t want to go to a four-year-degree school,” Roach said.

“Four years is a long time.”

Career paths include health care jobs, manufacturing, heating and air and truck driving.

“It’s a great opportunity for anybody,” Roach said.

“We have students with bachelor’s degrees come back to vocational because they can’t find a job in their field or just want to make more money.”

The average in-state tuition fee at public four-year colleges is $10,230 for the 2018-19 year, according to the annual Trends in College Pricing series published by the nonprofit College Board. In contrast, the average in-district tuition and fees at public two-year institutions is $3,660.

“At a four-year school, you’re going to spend on average, I’m guessing easily from $10,000-$50,000 a year,” Roach said. “For vocational, you might average about $5,000.”

Career-centered programs can propel established wage earners in new directions. Buffalo Gouge, a traditional artist since the 1990s, expanded his career with a digital focus after completing a yearlong graphic arts program at Indian Capital Technology Center.

“Since then, I’ve designed seven different (University of Oklahoma) logos, including the Cherokee OU logo,” Gouge said. “That’s just one of the successes from the program.”

Gouge’s decision to train for a specific artistic avenue pushed him into the commercial art sector, where he designs and creates book covers, commissions and T-shirts. He designed the first Cherokee Phoenix homecoming T-shirt in 2016.

For those who want to enter their chosen field quickly, “I would strongly suggest a technical school,” Gouge said.

ICTC – with Tahlequah, Stilwell, Muskogee and Sallisaw campuses – has an enrollment between 15,000 to 16,000 students, said Anesa Hooper, marketing and public information coordinator.

Jacquelyne Byrd, a graduate of a Cherokee Nation-sponsored welding class, sends sparks flying with a grinder. The tribe recently helped out workers who sought vocational training.

A welding trainee practices a technique he learned as part of a Cherokee Nation Career Services welding course offered in partnership with Iron Workers Local 584.

“We offer training in a variety of career areas ranging from health care to heating and air and graphic design,” she said. “Our goal is to provide training for students to go to work. It’s in and out quicker. Also, students leave with a lot less debt.”

Roughly 65 to 70 percent of the technical school’s students are Native American, according to the tech center. Students range in age from 16 to late 50s, Hooper said, pointing to health care, HVAC and others as high-demand areas. “We have businesses and industries that are hiring our students and putting them to work,” she said.

Classes begin in January and August. “In high schools, we start working with counselors as early as October for the next school year,” Hooper said.

Another option is the CN-administered Talking Leaves Job Corps, part of the national U.S. Department of Labor program.

Touted as a no-cost education and career technical

COURTESY PHOTOS Jacquelyne Byrd, who was named the top graduate of a Cherokee Nation-aided welding class, is an example of someone who got vocational training, which typically offers a hands-on approach to jobs.

training program, its goal is to help those ages 16 to 24 “improve the quality of their lives” in areas such as health care, finance and construction.

“All of our training programs are hands on,” the program promotes, “and you’ll get to practice your skills on the job in real work environments. When you graduate, you’ll have the skills and credentials you need to start your career.”

According to the national Job Corps, its education and job training programs have helped more than 2.6 million economically disadvantaged young Americans “master a trade.”

For more information about TLJC, call 918-4569959 or visit talkingleaves.jobcorps.gov. To reach the Career Services office, call 918-453-5555 or email career-services-dept@cherokee.org. Call the ICTC at 918-456-2594 or visit ictctech.com.

CHAD HUNTER Reporter

“College is not for everyobody. Yes, it’s great to have a college degree. But not everybody can be a doctor or an attorney.

So for them, vocational is the way to go.”

George Roach, Career Services vocational programs director

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CHEROKEE PHOENIX • FEBRUARY 1, 2019

EDUCATION• ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

ᏣᎳᎩ ᏧᎴᎯᏌᎤᎯ • ᎧᎦᎵ 1, 2019