Academic Scholarship

Subject to the availability of funds, one or more scholarships may be awarded to assist American Indian and Alaska Native federal employees who are currently members in good standing of SAIGE, to obtain college level course work to be applied toward receipt of a Bachelors, Masters, or PhD degree.

BACKGROUND

SAIGE has created a scholarship fund for our members so that we can increase our educational qualifications and by doing so enable AI/AN employees to rise in the professional and/or managerial ranks in Federal service. Recent OPM statistics show that AI/AN personnel have the lowest average grade level among all Federal employees and fewer Native American employees have college degrees. Through our scholarship program, we can do something positive to improve these statistics and the lives of the Native employees they represent.

According to the U.S. Census 4.3 million people or 1.5 percent of the total U.S. population reported that they were American Indian and/or Alaska Native. The educational levels of American Indians and Alaska Natives are below those of the total population according to the census. Seventy-one percent of American Indian and Alaska Natives 25 years of age and older had at least a high school education compared with 80% of the total U.S. population. Eleven percent of the American Indians and Alaska Natives had at least a bachelor’s degree; this is less than half when compared to all people at 24%.

Within the Federal workforce, American Indians and Alaska Natives represent 1.9% (32,318) of the permanent Federal Workforce. Of those 32,000 AI/AN employees, only 1.0% hold positions at the GS 13-15 and less than 1% at the Senior Executive Service level. The majority of the American Indian and Alaska Natives are employed at the GS 01-04. If American Indian and Alaska Native federal employees hope to influence the workings of the federal government and the programs and services we provide to the American people, we must be at a level of responsibility to do so. The tools to do this are gained through education and skills training; they are key to this effort.

ELIGIBILITY

Permanent, term, or career seasonal Career Conditional, or Career Federal American Indian and Alaska Native employees who are members of SAIGE
For academic scholarships, nominee must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited post secondary school in a course of study, certificate program or professional development program that will lead to a two-year, four-year or graduate degree
If a continuing student, the student must have at least a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete and submit the attached application package to the SAIGE and include the following:

For academic scholarships, complete academic record, including fall semester grades OR an Individual Development Plan (IDP) signed by applicant’s supervisor, if entering an institution of higher education for the first time or after a substantial break in education
Letter of Recommendation (character reference)
Narrative of extracurricular and community service activities
Essay – Topic: Describe your educational and workplace advancement goals and how this scholarship will assist you in meeting these goals.

AWARDS

Applications will be evaluated strictly on the merit and integration of the items listed above that comprises the application package. The merit of the applications will be determined on the basis of how the subject-training course will serve to advance and/or develop the employee’s career in the government sector.
SAIGE scholarship awards are for one year or semester, if applicable.
A new complete application is required each year.
Awards generally range from $300 to $500 (dependent on the educational institution the applicant is planning on attending) per semester or a total of $500 to $1,000 each year.

FUNDS AVAILABLE:
Applicants may apply for up to $500.00 each semester or a total of $1,000.00 each year.

AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND DISBURSEMENT:
Once an applicant has been awarded a scholarship, reimbursement will be made upon receiving a passing grade. Scholarship recipients must submit proof of completion of course work in the form of a certificate, in the case of government provided training, or a passing grade as reflected on a college transcript or notification of final grades. If you do not complete the course, or if you receive a failing grade, you will not be reimbursed by SAIGE.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE: The scholarship committee shall consist of five members:
One or more SAIGE board members
SAIGE Treasurer
Two SAIGE general members (not from the board of directors)

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AS FOLLOWS:
Academic scholarship fall semester, applications are due by June 1 of each year.
Academic scholarship spring semester, applications are due by Nov 1 of each year.

Applications packages with enclosures must be post marked by the dates identified above.

Please send Application packages to:
SAIGE Southern California Chapter/Scholarship Committee
1340 So. Ventura Rd.
Oxnard, CA 93033

Or by email to: Vvmed4d@yahoo.com

NOTIFICATION OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS:
The scholarship committee will make their determination for Academic Scholarships by July 1 or December 1 of each year.




	Brochure/Member App History Bylaws Board Members Committees Contact US SAIGE Cool Merchandise Current 2007-2008 2005-2007 2003-2004

	SAIGE Academic Scholarship
	Subject to the availability of funds, one or more scholarships may be awarded to assist American Indian and Alaska Native federal employees who are currently members in good standing of SAIGE, to obtain college level course work to be applied toward receipt of a Bachelors, Masters, or PhD degree. BACKGROUND SAIGE has created a scholarship fund for our members so that we can increase our educational qualifications and by doing so enable AI/AN employees to rise in the professional and/or managerial ranks in Federal service. Recent OPM statistics show that AI/AN personnel have the lowest average grade level among all Federal employees and fewer Native American employees have college degrees. Through our scholarship program, we can do something positive to improve these statistics and the lives of the Native employees they represent. According to the U.S. Census 4.3 million people or 1.5 percent of the total U.S. population reported that they were American Indian and/or Alaska Native. The educational levels of American Indians and Alaska Natives are below those of the total population according to the census. Seventy-one percent of American Indian and Alaska Natives 25 years of age and older had at least a high school education compared with 80% of the total U.S. population. Eleven percent of the American Indians and Alaska Natives had at least a bachelor’s degree; this is less than half when compared to all people at 24%. Within the Federal workforce, American Indians and Alaska Natives represent 1.9% (32,318) of the permanent Federal Workforce. Of those 32,000 AI/AN employees, only 1.0% hold positions at the GS 13-15 and less than 1% at the Senior Executive Service level. The majority of the American Indian and Alaska Natives are employed at the GS 01-04. If American Indian and Alaska Native federal employees hope to influence the workings of the federal government and the programs and services we provide to the American people, we must be at a level of responsibility to do so. The tools to do this are gained through education and skills training; they are key to this effort. ELIGIBILITY Permanent, term, or career seasonal Career Conditional, or Career Federal American Indian and Alaska Native employees who are members of SAIGE For academic scholarships, nominee must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited post secondary school in a course of study, certificate program or professional development program that will lead to a two-year, four-year or graduate degree If a continuing student, the student must have at least a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Complete and submit the attached application package to the SAIGE and include the following: For academic scholarships, complete academic record, including fall semester grades OR an Individual Development Plan (IDP) signed by applicant’s supervisor, if entering an institution of higher education for the first time or after a substantial break in education Letter of Recommendation (character reference) Narrative of extracurricular and community service activities Essay – Topic: Describe your educational and workplace advancement goals and how this scholarship will assist you in meeting these goals. AWARDS Applications will be evaluated strictly on the merit and integration of the items listed above that comprises the application package. The merit of the applications will be determined on the basis of how the subject-training course will serve to advance and/or develop the employee’s career in the government sector. SAIGE scholarship awards are for one year or semester, if applicable. A new complete application is required each year. Awards generally range from $300 to $500 (dependent on the educational institution the applicant is planning on attending) per semester or a total of $500 to $1,000 each year. FUNDS AVAILABLE: Applicants may apply for up to $500.00 each semester or a total of $1,000.00 each year. AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND DISBURSEMENT: Once an applicant has been awarded a scholarship, reimbursement will be made upon receiving a passing grade. Scholarship recipients must submit proof of completion of course work in the form of a certificate, in the case of government provided training, or a passing grade as reflected on a college transcript or notification of final grades. If you do not complete the course, or if you receive a failing grade, you will not be reimbursed by SAIGE. SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE: The scholarship committee shall consist of five members: One or more SAIGE board members SAIGE Treasurer Two SAIGE general members (not from the board of directors) SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AS FOLLOWS: Academic scholarship fall semester, applications are due by June 1 of each year. Academic scholarship spring semester, applications are due by Nov 1 of each year. Applications packages with enclosures must be post marked by the dates identified above. Please send Application packages to: SAIGE Southern California Chapter/Scholarship Committee 1340 So. Ventura Rd. Oxnard, CA 93033 Or by email to: Vvmed4d@yahoo.com NOTIFICATION OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS: The scholarship committee will make their determination for Academic Scholarships by July 1 or December 1 of each year.