NEWS RELEASES

Ft. McDowell Helps Keep Students in School

(August 12, 1999) -Hoping to help students stay in school and complete their degrees, the Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian Community has pledged $1 million over the next year to be divided between Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona.

Members of the Ft. McDowell Tribal Council will travel to the Arizona Board of Regents meeting at the NAU campus in Flagstaff, on Friday, Aug. 13 to present each university president with a $100,000 check, the first installment of the gift. The presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Havasupai Room of the Student Union. This is the second grant the universities have received from the Tribe, having received $1million in 1997.

The funds, derived from the Tribe's combined enterprises, will be used to provide a multitude of scholarship programs and other opportunities to directly benefit Native American as well as non-Native American students. While efforts are directed primarily at Native American recruitment, retention and graduation, 20 percent of the funds can be used to assist non-Native Americans.

"This gift will allow Arizona's public universities to increase their efforts to help Native Americans stay in school so they can complete their degrees," said Tribal President Bernadine Boyd.

During the Fall semester, 1998, there were 2,990 Native Americans enrolled in the Arizona University System. "Our numbers are increasing each year," said Peterson Zah, ASU's Advisor to the President on Native American Issues, who said ASU's Native American enrollment has increased by 300 students over the last three years. "Native Americans from rural areas of the state have a hard time adjusting after coming to the center of a large city. These funds will help us provide direct student services to help students succeed," said Zah.

Amount of Gift: $1 million, generated by Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian Community Enterprises, including sand and gravel operations, farming enterprises, and gaming.

Each university has received a check for $100,000

Purpose of Gift: To provide scholarships and other forms of assistance to Native American students to increase university recruitment, retention and graduation efforts.

Uses of gift: The Fort McDowell Wassaja Scholarship Fund has been created at each university. In addition to scholarships and emergency student funds, the universities will use funds to provide student services through the following programs:

Arizona State University

• Tutoring services
• Leadership and Development Initiative to develop students' leadership abilities
• American Indian Institute Internship Program
• ASU summer bridge program
• ASU East American Indian Center
• ASU West American Indian Center

Northern Arizona University

• Peer mentoring/tutoring
• Tutorial materials for students enrolled in statewide distance learning courses
• Upgraded student computers
• Institute for Workforce Development Internship Program
• Institute for Native Americans' efforts to recruit Native American faculty

University of Arizona

• Summer Research Institute for Undergraduate Students
• New Start bridge program for UA minority freshmen
• American Indian Language Development Institute
• Native American Resource Center retention counseling and advocacy
• Student internships and student wages
• Computers and equipment for the Native American Resource Center and the American Indian graduate Center
• Summer teaching projects

Native American enrollment (Fall 1998):

*ASU figures may include duplicated figures due to enrollment at more than one campus

Funding Criteria:

• Funds should support university retention efforts for Native American undergraduate students.
• 20 percent of funds can be used for non-Native Americans.
• Scholarship recipients must commit to providing community services that benefit Native American communities.
• Some of the funds should be used to supplement university emergency loan/assistance programs.
• Funds cannot be used for administrative overhead.
• Universities will submit quarterly and annual reports for the use of funds.

Ft. McDowell Tribal Council Members:

Other contacts:

Gerald Calnimptewa	General Manager, Ft. McDowell	(480) 816-7104
Jerry Gloshay, Jr.	Education Director, Ft. McDowell	(480) 816-7810
Al Henderson	Tribal Liaison, NAU	(520) 523-9600
Norma Salas	Arizona Board of Regents	(602) 229-2543
Sharon Kha	Assoc. V.P. Communications, UA	(520) 621-9017
Peterson Zah	Advisor to the President on Native American Issues, ASU	(480) 965-5793

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