Trade Scholarships
For more than 40 years, American Indian Services has awarded scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native students from member institutions. Since 2005, more than 35,000 Native students have benefited from these funds. We will award Trade School Scholarships for those who have applied and are eligible. Each trade program has its own registration requirements and deadlines. It is important that you have completed all registration requirements prior to applying for the AIS Trade School Scholarship.
What is the difference between a trade school and a college?
GUIDELINES
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Read our requirements to ensure that you are eligible to apply
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Create an account or login to complete the online application
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Upload all required documents and SUBMIT the application by the specified deadline
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If awarded, submit a thank you letter
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Click here to login to view your application
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Follow American Indian Services on Facebook or Instagram for updates
Incomplete applications will NOT be processed. Late documents will NOT be accepted. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks AFTER the deadline for applications to be evaluated and updated online. If your application has been approved, your application status will be updated and you will receive a status update email. Students will be required to write a thank you letter if approved, which needs to be submitted by the specified deadline. Scholarship checks will be sent to the school after receipt of thank you letters.
If you have questions, please contact our Trade Program Director, Meredith Lam. You can send an email to trade@americanindianservices.org or call 801-375-1777 ext. 1011.
Requirements
Each trade program has its own registration requirements and deadlines, it is important that you have completed all registration requirements prior to applying for the AIS Trade School Scholarship.
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Enrolled or will enroll in a trade school (incoming first-time trade applicant accepted)
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School of choice MUST be an accredited school (Check accreditation status with your school, or visit here for accredited school list. If your school is not accredited by any of the agencies, it is not eligible)
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An enrolled member of a U.S. Federally Recognized American Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, (Visit here to find out how to contact your tribe, apply for enrollment, and/or apply for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood).
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Must be a high school graduate or received a GED, with no more than 150-semester credits or 210 quarter credits (no degrees earned)
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Full-time or part-time status – excluding non-credit courses, taking a minimum of 6 credits
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Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 must be established and maintained after the first semester/quarter of trade school program
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Completed Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Required Documents
ALL required documents need to be uploaded to the student’s application and are due by the deadline. We are no longer accepting emailed, faxed, or hard copy documents. Late documents/applications will not be accepted. Be sure to request your documents early to avoid missing the deadline.
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Photo of the Applicant – Photo needs to be recent. It does not have to be professional, but old, tattered, blurry, filtered photos or a copy of your ID will NOT be accepted. The photo will be sent to potential donors who may fund your scholarship and/or used for marketing purposes. Go here for tips on how to take a great applicant photo.
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Proof of Heritage – Proof of Heritage must show that you are either an enrolled member of a Federally Recognized Tribe or you are not enrolled but are a descendant of a base roll member. If you are not enrolled but are a descendant, you will need to show proof of enrollment and relation. Ask your tribal enrollment office for a statement or you can apply for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood from the BIA. Visit here to find out how to contact your tribe, apply for enrollment, and/or apply for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood.
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Essay – The essay will need to be a separate document that you will upload. What’s included:
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Tell us about yourself - Introduce yourself, include where you are from and/or something special about where you grew up, experiences with your tribe or how it has influenced you, the challenges you've had to overcome to get you where you are today, what you are studying and why, where you see yourself after graduation and how this scholarship will help you.
You do not have to limit your essay to the above, but it does need to be at least one-page in length, 12-point font, and double-spaced.
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Official Tuition Billing Statement (or acceptable alternative) – The statement must reflect the term you are applying for and the tuition amount. Acceptable alternatives:
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Letter of the estimated cost of tuition from your school stating your name, the term you are applying for, and the estimated cost of tuition for however many credits you plan to take for that term.
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Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) form in place of a tuition statement. FNA’s for other organizations will not be accepted. Be advised that FNA’s are for full-time status only. *We are now accepting tuition statements for the Academic Year.
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Current Transcript (can be unofficial) – DO NOT WAIT for final grades to be posted and submit the most current transcript as of today. You don't need to pay for an official transcript. You can submit an unofficial transcript. High school or GED transcripts are acceptable for incoming freshmen in their first two terms ONLY.
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Thank You Letter (only required if your application is approved). Click here for tips on how to write a thank you letter.
Deadlines
Each trade program has its own registration requirements and deadlines, it is important that you have completed all registration requirements prior to applying for the AIS Trade School Scholarship.
January Award | Enrollment Opens: September 1 | Deadline: November 1
If your term starts in December, January, February, or March.
April Award | Enrollment Opens: January 1 | Deadline: February 1
If your term starts in April or May.
June Award | Enrollment Opens: March 1 | Deadline: April 1
If your term starts in June or July.
September Award | Enrollment Opens: May 1 | Deadline: July 1
If your term starts in August, September, October, or November.