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Travois Tribal Scholarship Program Helps Ten Native American Students Achieve Their Dreams

GlobalMindED is honored to share the work being done by our incredible partner, the American Indian College Fund. CEO Cheryl Crazy Bull was joined by several Native American leaders at the GlobalMindED conference last month, including tribal college faculty and staff, leaders from business and nonprofits including Ron Lessard (White House Initiative), Sarah EchoHawk (CEO of American Indian Science and Engineering Society), Alvin Warren (VP, LANL Foundation), artists including 15 year old Oklahoma Osage and Cherokee Native Ava Rose Johnson, the Native American Music Award winner who opened the Inclusive Leader Awards dinner, and students from several colleges. The College Fund received a generous donation from the Travois Tribal Scholarship Program to help 10 American Indian college students attend mainstream and tribal colleges and universities for the academic year 2021-22.

Travois is a Certified B Corporation focused exclusively on promoting housing and economic development for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities. The Travois Tribal Scholarship Program provided financial support for eight students pursuing careers in affordable housing and economic development and two students pursuing an arts degree.

Currently only 15 percent of American Indians have a bachelor’s degree, which is less than half the national average. That, compounded with the fact that a high percentage of American Indians are currently under the age of 24, makes providing access to a higher education to Native students crucial for the sustainability of Native communities as well as students and their families.

Jon-Anthony Henry (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation), a business administration student at Salish Kootenai College (SKC), is a four-year tribal college in Pablo, Montana who wants to use his degree to give back to his community. He plans to work for his tribe to helping tribal business owners the skills and assistance they need to succeed.

“Giving back to my community has always been a passion for me because I see how many Native Americans are struggling on my reservation,” Henry said. “I also want to be an inspiration to the youth and show them that anything is possible if they put their mind to it. I want to encourage the youth to continue education because college is very important in today's world. I strive to be a positive role model for youth and to help make a positive change in my community.”

Henry knows firsthand why role models are important. He lost his beloved uncle who was his own role model when he was a high school student. Encouraged by his mother, he began focusing on academics and said he felt happiness again. His mother shared how college helped her through her own life and he said, “I decided to follow in her footsteps and continue my education. It has been the best decision I've ever made.”

Tiffani Zamudio (Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation) attempted to return to school several times, but motherhood and illness in the family thwarted her attempts. After assuming the role as a housing case manager for her tribe’s housing authority for nearly six years, she developed a passion for helping people in her tribe. She enrolled at Northwest Indian College, a tribal college in Bellingham, Washington, where she plans to use what she learned in her career as she works toward a new one after completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work.

“I want to work with our tribal and extended communities to battle homelessness and provide support services to an underserved population. This scholarship will allow me to further my education and continue to grow in my position. All that I am learning, I have been able to apply to my everyday life as it pertains to my personal and professional life.”

“We’re thrilled to support American Indian college students working toward a brighter future for themselves and their families,” said Elizabeth Glynn, CEO of Travois. “In our work helping tribal governments finance affordable housing and create jobs in American Indian communities across the country, we see firsthand the incredible creativity and leadership of this next generation. We’re excited to see what the future holds for this talented group of students.”

Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said, “Our students’ passion to give back to their communities with thoughtfulness and intention is evident in their stories. On behalf of the College Fund, I want to share our appreciation for Travois, a partner that role models what it means to empower our students to make a difference through their own vision and hard work.”
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