Native Forward Scholars Fund awarded $100K by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians renews partnership to continue empowering native students on their journey through higher education

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, December 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (the Tribe) has awarded the Native Forward Scholars Fund (formerly the American Indian Graduate Center) a grant of $100,000 to continue strengthening and supporting native students in the pursuit of higher education degrees. This grant and renewed partnership with the tribe signifies their commitment to advocating for change in higher education through the inclusion, visibility, and achievement of native-born scholars.

Since 2010, in partnership with Tribe, Native Forward has been able to fund the educational trips of over 180 students by helping them with the financial costs of college. The visibility of native speakers in higher education is only one part of our strategic direction to increase enrollment and graduation rates for native students.

We are currently only able to fund 18% of our students who apply, but with this grant, Native Forward can continue to strengthen and provide high-quality scholarship programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. According to the National Study on College Affordability for Indigenous Studentspublished by Native Forward, more than 30% of participants found it difficult to find funding for their first year of…