With the spring semester starting, many scholarships are opening the window for applications. It’s a time when Tribal citizens can apply for additional funds to help with their education, and CPN Department of Education Assistant Director Charles Lee is available to help students with the process.
One of the scholarships open now is the Cobell Scholarship, named for Elouise “Yellow Bird Woman” Cobell. The scholarship is an annual, non-renewable scholarship that is merit based, with awards based on need. Any student may apply who is an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe and who will be enrolled full-time at any accredited school.
For the Cobell undergraduate scholarship, multiple professionals are flown into a location where they spend a week reading the submitted essays. Lee has been one of those involved in the process for multiple years, which he said makes him especially attuned to what the readers are looking for.
“The main thing is to sell yourself with your essays,” Lee suggested, adding that in their essays many students talk about a family member who inspired them rather than themselves. “They want to tell a story about how awesome grandma is. I don’t want to give grandma a scholarship. I want to give you a scholarship. Lean on that inspiration, but make sure you’re telling your story in all of your essays.”
The scholarship is fairly competitive, Lee said, and he estimated that only about half of applicants receive awards. Still, he encouraged “any and all students” who qualify to try to apply.
“Don’t let your GPA scare you away from applying,” he added. “They do look at GPA, but it is by no means the only factor they look at. They really want students who are involved in their community and are active leaders in their community. It is a leadership scholarship before an academic one.”
Students who are involved in clubs or extracurricular activities at school are among those who might be able to demonstrate their leadership qualities, and he encouraged them to apply.
For those who do apply, Lee said he is happy to help proofread essays and offer advice, whether for the Cobell or for any other scholarship a student might be trying for.
“I can give them one edit if they want to take it from there, or I can go with them every step of the way,” he said.
Rachel Watson, director of CPN’s Department of Education, said it is a privilege to have someone like Lee on staff and to be able to offer Tribal members services like this.
“Charles is great,” they said. “With his knowledge and background, he is qualified to help students navigate scholarship applications, giving them their best chance at success. We’re fortunate to have him as a resource for our Tribal members.”
The Cobell Scholarship for undergraduate students is open now through March 31. For more information, visit cobell.prolificdigital.io.
For a list of some other scholarships Tribal members can apply for, visit cpn.news/scholarship.
For more information about the Department of Education, visit potawatomi.org/services/education.