Archives: Scholarships

Career Development Grants (CDG) are designed to assist individuals who have chosen to further their education through non-degree seeking programs such as licensing and certification trainings, workshops, or other career advancing programs. These grants are merit-based, meaning how well you do on your application determines the amount of your award.

Award: Up to $1,000; multiple recipients per year. Limit of two (2) CDG’s per fiscal year, per student not to exceed a total of $1,000. No deadline; open continuously. Please allow up to 3 weeks for processing.

Who May Apply:
Koniag Shareholders and registered Descendants who wish to enroll in non-degree seeking, short term courses of study which will increase their opportunities for employment or job advancement.
 
Requirements: Any qualified student who is accepted to or enrolled in a career development course and can demonstrate how the training will assist the student in gaining employment or job security and/or advancement. Must meet all other KEF eligibility requirements. The program must be accredited or meet state or industry standards proof of program completion is required.

Required Documents for Career Development Grant
The following documents must be submitted for consideration of this scholarship award:

1) Essay: The purpose of the essay is to give the Executive Director more background information about you and your program. (Min. 500 words)

• A brief personal and family history including how you or your family is connected to Kodiak Island.
• Community involvement/volunteer activities.
• Career and educational goals.
• Benefit Statement: Explain how this training/course will improve your ability to find and/or improve current employment or help you advance in your career.

2) Recent Resume with employment history, volunteer/community service, awards/honors, and any additional education/training. (2 pages maximum)

3) Proof of Cost of Program: An invoice and/or cost of attendance from the school/training program.

4) A recent headshot photo.  

Review Process:
The Koniag Education Foundation Board of Directors may appoint a committee or the Executive Director of KEF to select recipients of awards. Awards are based on the personal essay and completeness of information in the application.

Disbursement of Funds:
If awarded, applicant will be notified by email. The awarded funds will be sent directly to the recipient’s school/program and may be used for reasonable expenses in conjunction with the courses taken which the Executive Director determines as acceptable costs.

*Because KEF is a private nonprofit, IRS regulations require that all scholarship and career development funds must be sent directly to the institute where training is taking place.

Ready to Try College Again?

Opens December 15, closes March 15 annually.

This one-time scholarship is designed for students who do not currently have the required 2.5 cumulative high school or college GPA. The student will have up to one academic year to bring their GPA into compliance in order to be qualified to receive funds through the KEF General Scholarship.

Criteria:

• Must be a Koniag Shareholder or registered Descendant.
• Must be accepted into an accredited college.
• Must not have received a KEF General Scholarship in the last two years.
• Must be enrolled in at least two classes (6 credits) per term.

How to Apply:

Apply for the KEF General Scholarship at here If you have applied previously and/or have already set up a student account and have forgotten your password, please use the ‘forgot your password link.

Please call or email KEF with any further questions.

AWARD DETAILS

The Margaret “Agnguarta” Roberts Memorial Scholarship is in honor) of the late Elder Margaret “Agnguarta” Roberts. The Tangirnaq Native Village recognizes and memorializes Margaret’s tireless efforts to showcase Alutiiq culture through language, dance, and wellness initiatives, as well as her advocacy in promoting education, vocational and career enhancement of our Tribal citizens. Margaret’s lifetime advocacy for the Alutiiq people will live on and help to guide future generations. 

The Tangirnaq Native Village (TNV) Scholarship offers awards up to $4,000.00  per year for applicants.  Checks will be made payable directly to the institution.  Applications are open March 1st and have a deadline of June 1st annually.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be a Tangirnaq Native Village Tribal Citizen.
• Applicants must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent by June 30.
• Be accepted by an institution that is an accredited college or university, trade school, or such other educational institution as the Committee may approve.
• Students are required to have and maintain a 2.5+ GPA and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.
• Preference will be given to full-time students.
• Must meet all other KEF eligibility requirements.

Application Requirements:

1. Proof of tribal enrollment in the TNV.

2. Letter of Recommendation:
New applicants are required to provide one letter of recommendation (LOR)  which must be signed, dated, and less than one year old. The letter can be from an employer, teacher, coach, etc. but not a family member. The recommender should indicate how long they have known the applicant, how they know them, and speak directly to the student’s ability to successfully complete their degree program. Returning applicants (those who received this award the previous year) do not have to provide an LOR unless they are beginning a new degree program. 

3. Essay:

    a)  A brief description of your personal and family history and how you or your family are connected to Woody Island. 
    b) Community and/or family involvement
    c) Volunteer activities/awards
    d) What are your long term goals? How will your educational experience help you to achieve them?
    e) If you have received this scholarship previously, share what you’ve learned during the past school year. For instance,  what were your challenges or setbacks and how did you overcome them? What were your triumphs or accomplishments?

4. Most recent high school or college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted for application but must be followed up by official transcripts by June 30).

5. Recent resume.

6. Proof of acceptance or letter from school stating you have applied.

7. Recent headshot photo.

This scholarship is for students who missed the March 15 deadline or are only attending the spring term. Apply beginning August 1 of each calendar year; the deadline is October 31. The requirements will be exactly the same as for the KEF General Scholarship.

The KEF Vocational award provides funding for Koniag Shareholders and registered Descendants who are non-degree seeking individuals enrolled in an accredited vocational or technical programs and training. Vocational Scholarships are merit-based, the amount of the award is dependent on the application score.

Award:   Up to $5,000 per fiscal year (As of April 1, 2023); subject to funding.
Deadline: No deadline, ongoing; Please allow up to 4 weeks for processing.
Requirements: Any qualified student who is accepted to or enrolled in an accredited or state or municipally recognized vocational school or program and:

• Maintains a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 or the equivalent while in the program.
• Demonstrates how the training will assist student in gaining employment or job security and/ or advancement
• The program must be accredited or meet state or industry standards proof of program completion is required.

Required Documents for Vocational Scholarship

• Essay: In this essay, include 1) a brief family and personal history including how you or your family is connected to Kodiak, 2) educational and career goals, 3) how this class will enhance your ability to find employment and/or improve current employment.
• Proof of program cost: An invoice and/or cost of attendance from the program.
• Recent Resume with employment history, school activities, volunteer/community service, awards/honors, additional education/training, 2 pages maximum.
• 1 Letter of Recommendation (LOR): A LOR from a current/former employer, instructor, mentor or coach, who knows you well and can reflect on your character and potential. The recommender should detail their relationship to you, how long they have known you, and why you would be an ideal candidate for this scholarship. Letters from immediate family members are not accepted. LOR’s must be signed, dated, and not more than one year old.  
• Recent headshot photo.

Review Process: KEF’s Scholarship Committee reviews and scores all applicant applications. Scores are averaged to determine the amount of the scholarship awarded.

Award: Varies depending on annual budget; multiple recipients per year.
Opens December 15 and closes March 15 annually – (Funding for the following Fall and/or Winter, and/or Spring). This award must be applied for annually.

KEF offers merit-based scholarships to Koniag Shareholders and registered  Descendants who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree through an accredited educational institution. These scholarships are competitive and are scored by an independent scholarship review committee. While all eligible applicants will receive funds, the applicants with the highest scores, will receive the highest awards. Each portion of the application has a point value, including the students’ cumulative grade point average (GPA), therefore it is important to put forth maximum effort into the application.

Qualified applicants will also be eligible for an additional special scholarship without having to submit an application. The Godfrey, Parsons, Matfay, & Drabek scholarships will be awarded to the students with the highest application points in each specified major. Please note that students who do not declare a major on the application will not be considered for these special scholarships.

KEF is a private nonprofit and the IRS regulations require that all scholarship funds must be disbursed directly to the university and cannot be applied to accounts in arrears (past due).

Online applications must be complete with all required documentation uploaded and submitted by the posted deadline. Late or incomplete/unsubmitted applications will not be considered.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a Koniag Shareholder or registered Descendant (may be adopted). If not a registered Descendant, applicant must submit a Shareholder Descendant application and be approved by Koniag Shareholder Records prior to any disbursement of award. The Descendant database form is located here (https://www.koniag.com/our-shareholders/records-forms/) . For more information, please e-mail [email protected] or call (800) 658-3818.
• Members of the Koniag Education Foundation Board of Directors and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply for KEF scholarships and grants.
• Must meet the GPA requirement which vary by award.
• Must be in good standing with KEF’s other scholarship programs (e.g., maintain communication, provide transcripts and/or proof of completion as required).

General Information & Requirements

• Award amounts vary annually depending upon availability of funds.
• Awarded funds are disbursed directly to the program or school and cannot be applied to accounts in arrears or directly to students.
• All writing is graded not only for content, but also spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. While it is permissible to have someone else proofread your work prior to submitting, the work you submit must be your own. It is not permissible for parents, guardians, etc. to apply on behalf of the student.
• Special Scholarships have additional requirements for field of study which must be met.
• Scholarships administered on behalf of our partners also have additional eligibility requirements which are detailed in the description of each award.

What Will I Need to Complete the Application?

1. Your Koniag Shareholder or Descendant ID number.
   
2. A recent resume with employment history, school activities, volunteer/community service, awards/honors, and any additional education/training. (2-page maximum)
   
3. Most recent high school, GED, or college transcript(s). This MUST be followed up with an official transcript sent directly to KEF from your educational institution either by having it mailed to 4141 B Street, Suite 201 Anchorage, AK 99503, or e-mailed to [email protected] through your school’s secure electronic transcript delivery network (such as Parchment, eScript, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.). Official transcripts must be received in order to receive your award.
   
4. An essay is required for all scholarships.  The essay should be written specifically for the scholarship you are applying for and include the following:
   
   a) Why are you a good candidate for this award?
   b) A brief description of your personal and family history including how you or your family is connected to Kodiak Island.
   c) Career and educational goals.
   d) Community involvement/volunteer work.
   
   AND
   
   e) If you are a returning student (if you received a KEF Scholarship last year), answer 1-4 and also share what you’ve learned during the past school year. For example, what were your challenges or setbacks and how did you overcome them? What were your triumphs or accomplishments?
   
   OR
   
   f) If you are a Step-Up or probationary student (currently have lower than a 2.5 cumulative GPA), answer a. through d. AND describe the steps you will take to improve yourself as a student and your GPA.

5. One letter of recommendation (LOR) is required for all new KEF General students (students who did not receive a KEF General Scholarship the previous year) or students beginning a new degree program. Students who have received a KEF General the past year are not required to resubmit a letter of recommendation. The recommender should write specifically about the scholarship which you are applying for. Letters from family members are not accepted and will receive zero points. All LOR’s must be signed, dated, and not be more than one year old or your application will receive a point reduction, resulting in a reduced award.  Click here for a form to share with your recommenders.

6. Recent headshot photo.

Review Process:
The KEF Scholarship Committee scores all applications. Award amounts are based on the funding available and application scores combined with student’s GPA.

Disbursement of Funds:
If awarded, applicant will be notified by email and/or regular mail the first part of June. The awarded funds will be sent directly to the recipient’s school/program by late August. If a student’s official transcripts are submitted late, the award will be late as well.

*Because KEF is a private nonprofit, IRS regulations require that all scholarship and career development funds must be sent directly to the institute where training is taking place.

Koniag Angayuk (Partner) Scholarship & Internship

Award: $10,000.00 per year until completion of degree program; multiple recipients per year.
Deadline: Opens November 15 and closes March 15 .

Purpose: Koniag has established an internship/scholarship program to seek out Koniag’s best and brightest Shareholders and Descendants to intern in Koniag’s offices or subsidiaries. Students who successfully participate in the internship will receive renewed funding of $10,000 each year until graduation, provided they successfully complete the annual summer internships, maintain full-time student status, and a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA. This award allows students to focus on their field of study and gain related work experience for a 6 to 10-week period during the summer, while helping Koniag identify, cultivate, and encourage future leaders who wish to be part of the Koniag family. Students studying in a field that leads to a career with Koniag or a Koniag subsidiary (such as business, finance, accounting, environmental engineering, or computer and IT) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Special Requirements: To qualify, students must be attending as a full-time student of sophomore level or higher, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, agree to intern in any one of Koniag’s offices or subsidiaries each summer while they are enrolled in their degree program, and be willing to relocate for a period of six to 10 weeks during the summer months. 

Previous Angayuk Scholarship recipients may apply for the scholarship again if they enroll in a new degree program (e.g. master’s degree, PhD program) and successfully completed the Angayuk program the first time they participated. Student may apply for this scholarship in conjunction with other KEF scholarships.

Required Documents
1) Applicant Essay/Qualification Summary:
 In your essay, include:
a) A brief personal and family history including how you or your family is connected to Kodiak Island.
 b) Description of your community involvement and/or volunteer activities.
  c) Educational and career goals.
  d) Qualification summary: Talk about where and why you would like to intern, the more specific you are, the better. For information on Koniag’s subsidiaries, visit: https://www.koniag-gs.com/companies/.
  e) Discuss the qualities that make you an ideal candidate for this internship.

2) Recent resume: Employment history, school activities, volunteer/community service, awards/honors, additional education/training. (2 pages maximum)

3) Most Recent Transcript:  Upload your most recent high school, GED, or college transcript (whichever is applicable). This MUST be followed up with an official transcript sent directly to KEF from your school after your term is complete or by June 30. It can be mailed to 4141 B Street, Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99503, or e-mailed to [email protected] through your school’s secure electronic transcript delivery network (such as Parchment, eScript, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.). Official transcripts must be received by June 30 in order to receive your award.

4) Two Letters of Recommendation: LOR’s should be submitted by a teacher, faculty member, academic advisor, employer, or an activity leader who knows you well and can reflect on your character, academic, scholastic and leadership ability and potential. Family members may not provide letters of recommendation. The recommender should detail their relationship to you, how long they have known you, as well as why you would be a good fit for this specific scholarship and internship. Letters must be signed, dated and not more than one year old from the scholarship deadline.

5) Recent headshot photo.

*Because KEF is a private nonprofit, IRS regulations require that all scholarship funds must be sent directly to the college.

Alyeska generously provides scholarship funding to organizations with the goal to provide partial monetary support to Alaska Natives for training, education, and internships that are needed in preparation for careers with Alyeska and on the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) or other oil industry related jobs. This funding is strategically focused to increase the pool of qualified Alaska Native applicants in specific job categories.

Application Process:
The Alyeska program is an in-house matching scholarship. Students who qualify will be identified by KEF and notified individually if they are eligible. No additional application is necessary.

Other Opportunities with Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.:

• Alyeska Summer Internship Opportunities
• Alyeska Employment Opportunities

Rhea Mae Knagin, a founding member of the Native Village of Port Lions, was dedicated to serving her community. In honor and recognition of her service the Native Village of Port Lions Traditional Tribal Council established the Rhea Mae Knagin (RMK) Scholarship. The RMK Scholarship is designed to provide financial support to enrolled members of the Native Village of Port Lions (NVPL), who demonstrate scholastic achievement or interest in furthering their professional career. The RMK Scholarship is administered by Koniag Education Foundation (KEF) and all applications are reviewed by the KEF Scholarship Committee. Applications are scored based on criteria set forth by the Port Lions Traditional Tribal Council.  Applications are available beginning March 1st of each year and have a deadline of June 1st.

AWARD DETAILS

The RMK Scholarship offers three (3) awards: one (1) award for $1,000.00 – to the applicant receiving the highest total score and two (2) awards for $500.00 each – to two applicants receiving the second and third highest total scores, based on scoring criteria. Checks will be made payable directly to the institution.

Who May Apply

• Applicants must be an enrolled member of the Native Village of Port Lions
• Applicants must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent
• Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
• Plan to attend a university of vocational school in the State of Alaska
• Previous recipients of the Rhea Mae Scholarship are welcome to reapply

Application Requirements

1. Completed application – Incomplete applications will automatically be disqualified
2. Short essay describing who you are and your educational goals
3. Proof of tribal enrollment in the Native Village of Port Lions
4. One (1) letter of reference
5. Most recent high school or college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
6. Proof of acceptance or letter from school stating you have applied
7. Applicant portrait with signed consent form

*Because KEF is a private nonprofit, IRS regulations require that all scholarship funds must be sent directly to the institute where training is taking place.

Ag’wanermiut Liitut means ‘we are learning’ in Alutiiq. The Native Village of Afognak (NVA), located in Kodiak, AK, generously sponsors this annual award of $1500 for two students that are enrolled into NVA.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be an enrolled member of the Native Village of Afognak
• Must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent by June 30 of application year.
• Be accepted to or attending an accredited vocational or college program.
• Must have and maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA or equivalent and make satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.
• Preference given to first-time degree-seeking and vocational students.
• Must meet all other KEF eligibility requirements

Application Requirements:

• Provide proof of enrollment
• One letter of recommendation
• Most recent high school or college transcripts
• Recent resume
• Recent headshot photo
• Essay

Special Essay Requirements:

The Native Village of Afognak Ag’wanermiut Liitut Award requires a two-part essay. (500 word minimum)

1) Include a description of your:

a) Personal and family history and how you or your family is connected to the Native Village of Afognak, b) Community and/or family involvement
c) Volunteer activities/awards
d) Educational and career goals
e) How would receiving this award impact you?

2) Select and answer one of the following three questions:

• What does Afognak mean to you?
• What does education mean to you?
• What does community mean to you?

*KEF offers merit-based scholarships to Koniag Shareholders and Descendants. These scholarships are competitive and are scored for completeness by an independent scholarship review committee. Applications must be postmarked or time-stamped by deadline.

**Because KEF is a private nonprofit, IRS regulations require that all scholarship funds must be sent directly to the institute where training is taking place.