Success Stories
Below are profiles of some of the students who have benefitted from the support the American Indian College Fund has provided. If you are a student or alumnus who would like to share your success story, please click here to submit your information.
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Alanna
Seminole Alanna, a recent graduate from SIPI, has not had an easy life, but she has met life’s challenges with optimism, determination, and hard work. Alanna juggled two jobs to pay the bills while attending college to provide a better future for herself and her young son. |
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Alli
Cheyenne River Lakota Nation Alli is in her third year at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous liberal studies (ILS) and a certificate in business and entrepreneurship. She chose to attend IAIA because they offered courses infused with indigenous perspectives. |
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Audra
Oneida Like many Native single mothers, Audra knows what it means to struggle. She works hard to put food on the table and teach her children about the importance of their culture while she earns top grades in her coursework. Audra is working towards a college degree in science at Sitting Bull College. |
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Beau
Chippewa Cree Beau Mitchell is living proof of the power of a tribal college education and how Native ideas about sustainability help all of mankind. |
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Cheryl
Diné (Navajo) We moved to the one-room 16’ hogan (Navajo round house) in the isolated region of central Navajoland. There is no running water, electricity, or refrigeration at the hogan. We haul water and firewood weekly and built an outhouse. I have installed two windows, a door, glass block windows near the door side (my creativity), and a Native pattern in stucco for siding. I have applied for electricity and water services. I’m proud to be home. |
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Dan
White Earth Dan decided to channel his aspirations for success to help his people. He became the first person in his family to go to college. |
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Darryl
Navajo When Darryl speaks, it is evident that he has found his life’s calling. His enthusiasm and excitement for his profession as an electronic engineer bubbles to the surface. |
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Deloris
Menominee Facing unemployment, Deloris decided to enroll in college. She chose a double major of legal studies and sustainable development because she can legally protect those resources while also learning about the new technology that is being used in her tribe's forested areas. |
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Diana
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Diana Canku (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), president of Sisseton Wahpeton College and a 2009-10 academic year fellow in the American Indian College Fund’s Andrew W. Mellon Career Enhancement Program, successfully defended her dissertation and completed her doctorate degree. |
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Dominic
Navajo American Indian College Fund scholar Dominic talks about his path from his home town of Navajo, New Mexico to Haskell Indian Nations University. In 2009, Dominc’s talents helped him land a prestigious internship at Nike, where he spent the summer of 2009 working at Nike headquarters on the grass roots marketing of the N7 shoe. Today he is studying to earn his master's degree at Arizona State University. |
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