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WINGAPO!
Welcome to The Guided Arrow.
For more details or additional resources, please visit our website at www.vtecinc.org or reach out to the VTEC staff at vtecstaff@vtecinc.org.
We’re happy to assist you!
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Your gift, their growth!
VTEC appreciates your generous support of our organization. Your contribution plays an important role in educating Virginia's Indigenous communities and are committed to equipping our students with the tools they need to succeed from childhood through adults. To continue supporting educational success, we ask for your consideration by making a donation. Please click the 'Donate' button below to begin.
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Earth Guardians Indigenous Youth Training & Retreat (Ages 18–30)
Earth Guardians is offering an all-expenses-paid Indigenous Youth Training & Retreat for young people ages 18–30 from the Mid-Atlantic region (VA, DC, MD, DE, PA, WV). The weeklong program will take place at a retreat center in the mountains of Western Maryland and focuses on strengthening Indigenous youth leadership in climate justice.
Participants will build skills in community organizing, media and storytelling, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, while deepening relationships, reconnecting to land and spirit, and building capacity to address climate justice issues in their home communities. Here’s the program website with more information and a short video recap from the 2025 training.
Two sessions are available in 2026:
- June 8–14, 2026
- October 5–11, 2026
The application is short, and youth may apply for either session. The deadline for the June session is April 1, 2026, with participants accepted on a rolling basis until that date.
For questions, contact Sebi Medina-Tayac at 240-281-0268.
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ST. Lukes Historic Church & Museum: Seeking a Native American History Education Development Intern!
| | Click the flyer above to learn more about the Native American History Educational Development Intern opportunity at St. Lukes Historic Church & Museum. | |
2026 Governor's Fellows Program
The Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program offers participants a substantive, eight‑week experience within the Office of the Governor. Fellows are placed in the Governor’s Administration, where they serve as members of various offices and support day‑to‑day operations, research, and policy initiatives. Each fellow will receive a stipend for their 2-month long service to the Commonwealth.
Read more about the 2026 Governor's Fellows Program
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We are excited to share that the Indigenous Conservation Council (ICC) is seeking a Summer Legal Intern to support our growing work advancing Tribal sovereignty and Indigenous conservation in the Chesapeake Bay region.
This internship offers law students the opportunity to work directly on legal and policy issues affecting our member Tribal Nations in Virginia. The intern will assist with research and analysis related to Tribal governance, treaty rights, land stewardship, and the implementation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights within environmental and conservation policy.
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Who We Are Looking For:
We are seeking a law student (rising 2L or higher) with strong research and writing skills and an interest in Federal Indian law, Tribal governance, or Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Students who have taken Federal Indian law are encouraged to apply. If your law school does not offer the course, relevant experience working with Tribal Nations or Indigenous communities may substitute for this requirement.
The internship will run June 1- July 31, 2026, with the possibility of extending through August 7. This is a paid internship. The position is flexible/remote (with in-person travel required), with preference for candidates based in Virginia or the Chesapeake Bay region.
The deadline to apply for this position is April 10, 2026; please send application materials to hannah@indigenous-chesapeake.org
Full details are available in the job description posted below.
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Virginia Tech 9th Annual Spring Pow Wow | May 2, 2026 | Blacksburg, VA
Ati Wa: Oki Indigenous Community Center and Native At VT is hosting their 9th Annual Spring Pow Wow on Saturday May 2nd, 2026.
An event full of cultural and traditional dancing, singing, vendors, and education around Native and Indigenous heritage and culture.
Takes place outdoors at Solitude-Fraction House. Rain Space in War Memorial Gym:
Solitude
705 W. Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA, 24061
Contact: Mackenzie Locklear; Mlocklear@vt.edu
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Native American Fish & Wildlife Society:
2026 National Summer Youth Practicum
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The National Summer Youth Practicum (SYP) is designed to provide Native American and Alaskan Native high school students (ages 14 – 17 years old) an opportunity to gain hands-on and in-lecture experience in the interdisciplinary components of natural resource management and Indigenous knowledge.
One of the goals of the NAFWS is to educate Native American youth to understand the importance of professional natural resource management and the interconnectedness to culture, as well encourage them to continue their education and pursue careers in the natural resource fields.
The National Summer Youth Practicum is planned and implemented by the national office and education coordinator. This week long practicum is in beautiful and mountainous sites of Northern Colorado. Students from the continental U.S. are encouraged to apply.
Application due date is Saturday, May 2, 2026 by 10:00 PM MT.
View full flyer here!
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Tennessee State University: Positive Youth Development Conference
| | Click the flyer above to register for the Positive Youth Development Conference! | | Scholarship Opportunities | | |
Education doesn’t have an age limit, and scholarship opportunities aren’t just for high school students! Whether you’re a tribal citizen pursuing a degree, learning a new trade, or considering a career shift later in life, there are financial resources available to help support your journey. While we don’t provide these scholarships directly, we are committed to sharing opportunities that might be the right fit for you.
Visit our website (https://www.vtecinc.org/vtecopportunities) to explore a curated list of scholarships, complete with links to apply. If you don’t find one that fits your needs, Scholarships.com is another great resource to expand your search. At any stage of life, investing in education opens doors to new possibilities, and we encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities!
| | Association on American Indian Affairs | | |
  The Oliver Linwood Perry Endowed Scholarship | |
Named in honor of a birthright Nansemond citizen, the Oliver Linwood Perry Endowed Scholarship is a renewable scholarship providing support to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Virginia (UVA) who demonstrate a history of service to Native American tribes. Preference is given to those who work with tribes that are indigenous to Virginia.
To be considered for this scholarship, students must submit a description of their service and one signed letter of reference from a Native American tribal leader.
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Eligible students should submit the electronic application or see UVA's Scholarships Requiring Students to Self-Identify to SFS page for more information.
Applications must be submitted no later than March 1, 2026, and scholarships will be awarded, subject to the availability of funds, by May 30, 2026.
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TC Energy Scholarships
TC Energy is offering scholarships to support Indigenous students pursuing their educational goals. With three specialized programs, students can qualify based on their field of study, community involvement, or career aspirations. Whether you're studying in a trades program, a STEM field, or another discipline, funding is available to help you succeed. Don’t miss this opportunity—apply today!
| | Native Forward Scholars Fund 2026-2027 Scholarship Application | |
This is the application for all Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities for the 2026-2027 academic year. By submitting this application, you will be considered for all academic year scholarships that you are eligible for.
Throughout our 50-year history, Native Forward Scholars Fund has empowered over 22,000 students from over 500 Tribes in all 50 states by providing scholarship dollars and support services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.
DEADLINE: June 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM MST
For further questions, please reach out to our Scholarship Operations team at scholarships@nativeforward.org.
APPLY HERE
https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/104417-Native-Forward-Scholars-Fund
|   American Indian Scholarships Available! | |
The Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) has scholarship opportunities available for Indigenous citizens, starting November 1 through January 31, at 11:59 pm (Hawaii Time).
Click the button below to view the available scholarships, and their requirements.
For any questions, please email: scholarships@nsdar.org
| | | Native American Career & Technical Education Grant Program (NACTEP) | | Native Youth Community Project (NYCP) | | |
Free, expert support is still available for Virginia students and families!
The Virginia FAFSA Help Desk is open and ready to assist. Just text “Hello” to 434-478-4003 to get answers to your financial aid questions from a real expert within 24 business hours.
In addition, SCHEV and uAspire are offering a six-part webinar series covering key financial aid topics:
- FAFSA Completion
- Financial Aid for Current College Students
- Scholarship Basics and Tips
- Next Steps After the FAFSA
- Financial Aid Offer Review
- Summer Steps for Financial Aid
Check dates and register here: www.uaspire.org/schev
FAFSA completion is the first step toward receiving grants, and other aid to make college more affordable. Let’s make sure Virginia students don’t leave money on the table!
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VTEC is partnered with Trailblazer, a platform tapping the power of AI x grassroots community to reimagine college advising. Students/counselors can use Trailblazer's free AI college matching tool to personalize a college list from over 2,700 colleges nationwide. From there, they can connect with first-gen peer advisors - including VTEC-affiliated students - at 50+ universities nationwide.
We pay these peer college advisors $20/hour for their impact. Through VTEC, counselors get free access to analytics dashboards to understand how their students are connecting, so that they can better support them. If you're a high school student, create an account here. And if you're a college student or counselor, create an account here. Reach out to Dr. Drew Allmond with any questions!
| | Let NYCP Assist you with your ACT Test Registration | | 2025 National Test Dates Schedule | | | |
VTEC provides free access to ACT resources that tribal members can use to enhance their college applications and gain traction in their careers.
For students on a college path, free ACT test vouchers and ACT test prep access are available. Students often begin using ACT test-prep during 10th grade and complete the ACT test multiple times between 11th grade and October of 12th grade. Students who want to gain career traction can complete ACT's WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate for free at any time.
Our Coordinators can provide free registration for the upcoming ACT dates. For more information, click the photos below to visit the home sites for ACT testing or reach out to our staff by email.
To request a free ACT test voucher or free registration for online test-prep and other inquiries, please email Dr. Drew Allmond at drew.allmond@vtecinc.org.
Below are the upcoming ACT Testing Dates. CLICK HERE to view more information on ACT's website.
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Sponsored VA College & Trade School
Campus Visits
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The Native Youth Community Project (NYCP) is now offering travel sponsorships for eligible students and families to visit colleges or trade schools within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Student must be a Virginia resident currently enrolled in 8th through 12th grade.
- Student must be an enrolled citizen of one of the 11 Virginia-recognized tribes or a federally recognized tribe (documentation required).
- Travel must be within Virginia
- Adult Chaperone required
For more information, contact Dr. Drew Allmond at Drew.Allmond@vtecinc.org. Funding is limited and subjected to availability.
| | James Madison University and University of Virginia Application Fee Waiver | | |
James Madison University and University of Virginia have agreed to waive application fees for VTEC participants who will be attending college for the first time!
To take advantage of this opportunity, please contact Drew Allmond via email: Drew.Allmond@vtecinc.org or (804) 914-0735 in advance to request fee waiver instructions specific to each university.
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