COBELL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP (http://www.collegefund.org/Cobell)

1. What is the Indian Education Scholarship Holding Fund?

The $60 million holding fund for the Indian Education Scholarship Holding Fund was

designated as part of the $3.4 billion Cobell settlement through the vision and leadership

of the late Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Mrs. Cobell

initiated a class action lawsuit in 1996 on behalf of American Indians whose trust land

funds had been mismanaged by the federal government on behalf of individual Indian

land owners for decades. Before her passing, Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the case, said

the set-aside of funds from the settlement for higher education would “mean a great

deal… to the Indian youth whose dreams for a better life including the possibility of one

day attending college can now be realized.”

For detailed information about the settlement and the land buyback program that will

fund the Cobell Scholarships, visit http://www.indiantrust.com/

2. Who Will Administer the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund?

The Cobell v. Salazar settlement agreement provides that a qualified non-profit

organization would be selected to administer the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund.

The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund) was named by the U.S.

Department of the Interior and the plaintiffs of Cobell v. Salazar to administer the Cobell

Education Scholarship Fund.

In addition, the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) was named by the U.S.

Department of the Interior and the plaintiffs of Cobell v. Salazar to distribute graduate

student scholarships. Graduate student scholarships will comprise 20% of the annual

awards.

3. Who Is the American Indian College Fund?

The American Indian College Fund is the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships

for American Indian students. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado,

the College Fund has been “Educating the Mind and Spirit” of American Indian and

Alaska Native people for nearly 25 years and provides an average of 6,000 scholarships

annually. The College Fund also supports the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and

universities located on or near Indian reservations. The College Fund consistently

receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. For more information, please

visit www.collegefund.org.

The College Fund is not organizationally affiliated with the AIGC or any individual

college or university.

4. Who Is the American Indian Graduate Center? The American Indian Graduate Center is a national, non-profit scholarship administrator

located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and operates under Director P. Sam Deloria. For

more than 40 years, AIGC has awarded scholarships to American Indian and Alaska

Natives who are pursuing masters, doctoral and professional degrees from accredited

colleges and universities throughout the nation. AIGC has awarded over 16,000

scholarships totaling more than $46 million to graduate students from federally

recognized tribes across the United States. For more information go to www.aigc.org.

The AIGC is not organizationally affiliated with the College Fund or any individual

college or university. AIGC is affiliated with AIGC Scholars, a separately managed non-

profit that was incorporated in 2001 to be the American Indian and Alaskan Native

partner in the Gates Millennium Scholars Program.

5. What Types of Education Can the Scholarship Monies Fund?

Cobell Scholarships can be used by students who attend accredited institutions in the U.S.

that grant career and technical education certificates or bachelor’s degrees. A portion of

the annual scholarships, 20%, will be used for students who are pursuing graduate or

professional degrees at an accredited U.S. institution.

6. When Will Cobell Scholarships Be Available?

Provided that funds are disbursed to the College Fund and AIGC from the land buy-back

incentives, the first Cobell Scholarships will be available for the Fall 2014 school year.

7. Who Qualifies for Cobell Scholarships?

The following criteria are currently required to be eligible for a scholarship. Additional

criteria may be established by the Cobell Board of Trustees at its discretion.

a. Through the American Indian College Fund:

Any citizen of a federally recognized tribe or a direct descendant (one or both

parents enrolled)

Enrolled in an accredited, U.S. institution that awards graduating students

either bachelor’s degrees or career and technical certificate.

b. Through the American Indian Graduate Center:

Pursuing a post-baccalaureate graduate or professional degree as a full-time

degree-seeking student at an accredited institution in the U.S.;

Able to demonstrate financial need through submission of the AIGC Financial

Need Form (FNF), and;

An enrolled member of a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska

Native group, or provide documentation of descent (possess one-fourth degree

verifiable federally recognized American Indian blood) as verified through

submission of a Tribal Eligibility Certificate (TEC).

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS REGARDING THE CRITERIA FOR

THE DISTRIBUTION OF COBELL SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDS, YOU MAY DO SO

FROM APRIL 3, 2014-MAY 2, 2014 AT COLLEGEFUND.ORG/COBELL.

8. Are There Any Special Eligibility Criteria Requirements to Be Eligible or More

Competitive for the Cobell Scholarship?

Not at this time, although there is a possibility that additional criteria could be added by

the Cobell Trust Board prior to the awarding process.

9. When and Where Can I Apply for Scholarships?

Students attending an accredited, U.S. institution that awards graduating

students either bachelor’s degrees or career and technical certificate: Apply

online using the Full Circle Scholarship application at the American Indian College

Fund web site at www.collegefund.org/scholarships beginning April 10, 2014. If you

have already completed a Full Circle Scholarship application, you will be considered

for the Cobell Scholarship. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2014.

Students pursuing a post-baccalaureate graduate or professional degree as a

full-time degree-seeking student at an accredited institution in the U.S.: Apply

online using The AICG Fellowship application at the American Indian Graduate

Center web site (select Apply Now on any page) beginning April 10, 2014. Deadline

to apply is June 1, 2014.

10. How Many Scholarships Will Be Awarded from the Cobell Trust and What Will Be

the Amount of the Scholarships?

That decision is not finalized as we await the final dollar amount of scholarship funds

that will be available for academic year 2014-15. Please continue to check both the

American Indian College Fund and American Indian Graduate Center web site for

updates.

11. How Often Can I Apply?

You can apply for Cobell Scholarships annually.

12. Will There Be a Cobell Scholarship Endowment?

The Cobell Board of Trustees may establish an endowment. If this occurs, proceeds or

interest from an endowment would then be used for scholarships.

13. The Cobell Board of Trustees

The Cobell Board of Trustees will approve and monitor the scholarship distribution

policy and program administered by the College Fund. As part of their duties, the Cobell

Board of Trustees will approve and monitor Cobell investments managed by the College

Fund.

Members of the Cobell Board of Trustees Include:

College Fund Representative:

Carla Fredericks, Three Affiliated Tribes

Plaintiffs’ Representatives:

Turk Cobell, Blackfeet

Alex Pearl, Chickasaw

Department of Interior Representatives

Pam Agoyo, Cochiti, Kewa, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos

Jean O’Brien, White Earth Ojibwe

14. Who Do I Contact If I Have Questions About the Cobell Scholarships?

The Cobell Scholarships web site is currently under construction. For more information

go to the Cobell landing page at collegefund.org/cobell.

You may also send an e-mail to:

American Indian College Fund

scholarships@collegefund.org

American Indian Graduate Center

fellowships@aigcs.org