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!

Chickahominy Indian Tribe | Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division |

Monacan Indian Nation | Nansemond Indian Nation

|Rappahannock Indian Tribe | Pamunkey Indian Tribe | Upper Mattaponi Tribe

MONTHLY NEWS & UPDATES

September | 2026

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.

Donate here

August News & Notes!

2026 Annual VTEC Conference!

This October, the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium welcomes all to the 2026 Annual VTEC Conference! Resilient Roots: Building Our Future Through Education is our featured two-day conference, bringing together Tribal communities, educators, students, community partners, leaders, and advocates to celebrate the strength of Tribal roots while exploring the possibilities of our collective future!

Throughout the conference, attendees will engage in conversations surrounding Tribal education, educational sovereignty, legislation, leadership, community partnership, and cultural preservation, alongside opportunities to experience Native drums and dance, artisans, hands-on cultural activities, and community fellowship.

This event will be held at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, October 14-15, 2026, from 9:00 AM - 3:45 PM each day.

Conference registration is complimentary, with lunch and parking in the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) parking lot and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) parking deck included for registered attendees.

To ensure an accurate attendance count and allow us to properly accommodate all guests, each attendee must register individually and may claim only one ticket per conference day. When registering, please provide the attendee's first and last name, phone number, and email address.

Please do not submit duplicate registrations. Duplicate registrations will be removed.

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Please note: Final agenda coming soon!

We look forward to gathering with you as we honor our resilient roots and continue building our future through education!

This event is held in-person only, with no virtual attendance or live stream options available.

For more information or questions, please email us at: vtecstaff@vtecinc.org

Virginia Tribal Education Consortium on Ticketbud

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!

Shaffer Group Grant Opportunities

Need funding for your next initiative? Check out the Shaffer Group's current federal grant opportunities.

Grants often require an independent evaluation to assure the funder that the project is meeting its goals and objectives and accomplishing outcomes. At the grant application stage, Shaffer Evaluation Group will help you craft measurable goals and objectives and prepare an evaluation plan to improve your competitiveness to win a grant.

Post-award, we work closely with you to collect meaningful data and generate the reports you need to remain compliant with your funder's reporting requirements.

Contact the Shaffer Group today for more information.

Applications must be submitted no later than the deadline date. For more information, contact the Shaffer Group.

Shaffer Group Grant Opportunities

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!

Learn more and apply here!

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

Available DAR American Indian Scholarships

Native American Career & Technical Education Grant Program (NACTEP)

The purpose of VTEC’s Career and Technical Education Program is to increase the number of Native individuals who obtain a postsecondary degree or credential. Whether you are working towards a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree, certification/licensure in a STEM/CTE field, or completing continuing education credits, the CTE Program has resources to support you!

The program assists participants from 6th grade through working adults looking to further their education or change their career objectives by covering specific costs for eligible individuals and providing comprehensive career and academic guidance.

We offer direct assistance in fields such as healthcare, information technology, skilled trades, and more, ensuring learners are workforce-ready for citizens who qualify. By investing in career education, VTEC NACTEP empowers our citizens to secure stable, well-paying jobs.

Please contact our staff for additional information: vtecstaff@vtecinc.org.

Career and Technical Education Checklist

VTEC Eligibility Packet

Career and Technical Education Policy

Native Youth Community Project (NYCP)

The purpose of VTEC’s Native Youth Community Project (NYCP) grant is to improve college and career readiness among Indian high school students from the sovereign tribal nations in Virginia, and to create community supports to sustain those positive outcomes into the future. This is a five-year project, currently in its fourth year, backed by $1.95 million in federal funding.

Is your tribe is looking for new activities to support your youth?

Or is your organization seeking to engage young tribal citizens in formative experiences?

If the answer to either question is yes, feel free to schedule an introductory consultation meeting with VTEC's NYCP staff so we can assist with your planning.

Through this project, high school students who are citizens of the seven federally recognized tribes can receive financial help and guidance for the following:

Career training & certification
College & career recruitment
Standardized testing & test-prep
Financial aid applications
College applications
Scholarship opportunities

To learn more about the NYCP program, contact our staff today!

View more information about NYCP here!

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

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.

Campus Visits

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.

Submit your application here!

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.

Contact Dr. Drew Allmond about NYCP questions