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 special 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. 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?
- Your Koniag Shareholder or Descendant ID number.
- A recent resume with employment history, school activities, volunteer/community service, awards/honors, and any additional education/training. (2-page maximum)
- 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 194 Alimaq Drive, Kodiak, AK 99615 , 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.
- 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) Understanding Alutiiq Heritage is very important in forming your cultural identity. Please share your cultural or family history and/or connection to Kodiak Island. This is a good opportunity to reach out to family members to learn more about your family history.
b) What attributes do you have that make you a good candidate for this scholarship?
c) What are your career and educational goals?
d) Share an example of how you have participated in or contributed to your family and/or community.
AND
e) If you received a KEF Scholarship last year, update any relevant changes of a. through d. from above, AND choose one of the following topics and elaborate so our committee can continue to get to know you as you progress in your education.
• What have you learned during this past year that has convinced you that you are on the correct educational path?
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Share a challenge, failure, or setback. How did it affect you, what did you learn from the experience, and what was the outcome?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Relationship: How might the work you hope to do one day support the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people or communities?
AND/OR
f) If you currently have lower than a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (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 applicants 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.
Letter requirements:
* Be from a teacher, faculty member, academic advisor, current/former employer, mentor or an activity leader who knows you well and can reflect on your character, academic, scholastic and leadership ability and potential for success in your chosen career field. Letters from family members are not accepted.
* Recommender should explain their relationship to you and how long they have known you.
* All letters must be signed and dated by the recommender.
* Can not more than one year old.
If any of these items are missing, you will receive 50% less points will will reduce your 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 the first part of June. Students will be required to sign back into their account and accept the award and provide additional information. 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.