A Medley of Educational Opportunities for American Indian Students
Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship Programme
This spring marked the first opportunity students had to apply for the Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship Programme. The scholarship is being instituted in recognition of the act of generosity and humanitarianism shown by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma towards the people of Ireland during the Great Famine of the mid-nineteenth century, and to foster and deepen the ties between the two nations today.
The Irish Department of Education partnered with the Choctaw Nation and Chahta Foundation to offer this exceptional new scholarship starting Fall 2019. It is for Masters level students interested in studying abroad. The scholarship covers full tuition at University College Cork and €10,000 in living expenses.
The first step students took to apply for this unique opportunity was being accepted by University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland. The college, founded in 1845, ranks in the top 2% of universities in the world.
With the picturesque River Lee flowing through the campus, it’s a beautiful location for Choctaw students to pursue their master’s degree. It is set on 42 acres of wooded ground, and only a 10 minute walk from Cork City Centre. The campus is a mixture of ancient and contemporary with its Tudor Gothic designs and state of the art facilities. The stone corridor of the Main Quadrangle is home to the largest collection of Ogham Stones on public display in Ireland.
For those Choctaw students interested in a degree from the College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences at UCC, this scholarship affords them a remarkable opportunity to reach for their dreams.
We are excited to announce the recipient soon and will have more on the Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship Programme for you in coming stories.
The Tribal Districts Scholarship
In April, we were honored to receive a $9,500 check from District 9 Councilman James Dry and District 10 Councilman Anthony Dillard from their districts’ fundraising efforts. Tribal members throughout the 10.5 counties worked hard to raise funds in support of the Tribal Districts Scholarship.
This May, we gathered at the Choctaw Community Center in Durant and proudly awarded 19 students with their scholarships.
Jones Academy
Since the merging of the Jones Academy Foundation with the Chahta Foundation, we’ve had the privilege of working with long-time donors for American Indian students. Your heartfelt support opens countless doors for young lives striving to achieve their education goals and launch into a successful life. Thank you for making opportunities like this possible!
After the Hartshorne High School graduation ceremony this spring, Jones Academy held a scholarship reception where outstanding students received scholarships totaling over $30,000.
Heritage – Legal Scholarship
We recently touched base with our 2018 Heritage – Legal recipient Chloe Moyer. She shared her journey about what inspired and motivated her educational pursuits. Her parents were her examples of what you can achieve with hard work and a no-quit attitude.
With a desire to help others, Chloe is pursuing her masters at Oklahoma City University School of Law and will return to the Choctaw Nation as part of her payback agreement with the tribe. Read more about this hard-working young woman on our blog.
Credit: Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
