FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Nicole Adams
303.426.8900

American Indian College Fund Program Addresses Gender Disparity in Higher Education Achievement

Cartwright Scholarship Program Promotes Male Achievement

DENVER, CO (August 2, 2006) - Recent educational research has drawn increased attention to the growing gender gap in higher education. Across all races, women are graduating in higher numbers. In the Native American community, this gap is especially pronounced. Thirty years ago, there was near parity in the number of American Indian men and women in higher education. Today, Indian women outnumber Indian men two-to-one.

The American Indian College Fund, with support from Dorwin and Barbara Weiss Cartwright, have established the Doc and Barbara Cartwright Endowed Scholarship Fund. The scholarship program provides financial support to American Indian men at tribal colleges who will become mentors and role models to encourage other American Indian male students to pursue higher education.

Research indicates that numerous factors contribute to male underachievement in post-secondary education including low expectations from teachers, lack of positive male role models, low educational aspirations and expectations to generate income for the household, becoming the male breadwinner as quickly as possible.

The Cartwright Scholarship Program addresses these causes from within the community. Scholarships are awarded to American Indian men who agree to encourage and recruit other men to enroll in college and to assist them with their educational journey. As Donovan Lambert, a 2006 scholarship recipient, elaborates, “I chose to pursue a degree in education because I want to be a positive male role model for Native children. Growing up on our reservation, I know that not all families have a two parent home. It would give me a great feeling to assist with their education and to be a person they can count on when they are troubled.”

The Fund also raises awareness in tribal communities and beyond of gender disparities in academic achievement in higher education. Staff from the Fund have presented at national education conferences and have undertaken extensive recruitment efforts to promote the Cartwright Scholarship.

To learn more about this program, please contact Kellie Jewett at (303) 426-8900.