Submitted by Tesia Zientek,
Education Department

It’s time to kick off the fall Tribal scholarship application period! The online application opens 8 a.m. Central Standard Time on July 15 and closes 5 p.m. CST on Sept. 15. CPN prioritizes education, and we look forward to granting Tribal scholarships to more than 1,000 students each year. To prepare for the fall scholarship, please review the FAQs below:

Do I qualify for scholarships as a CPN Tribal member?

We administer the consolidated Tribal Scholarship via our user-friendly online Education Portal. Enrolled CPN tribal members who complete application criteria are eligible to receive $2,000 (full-time status) or $750 (part-time status) per semester up to three times a year (fall, spring and summer).

What degree programs does the tribal scholarship support?

The Tribal scholarship supports associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree programs at accredited institutions as long as students show forward progress and maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average.

What if I’m pursuing a technical degree or certification?

Scholarships for vocation and technical studies are handled by the CPN Workforce and Social Services Department, which can be reached via telephone at 405-878-3854.

How do I submit my application online?

Students can access the portal at portal.potawatomi.org. Users will be prompted to log in using their Google or Facebook account (which we recommend so that you do not forget your password), or if preferred, you can create your login with an email address and password of your choosing. You must provide your Tribal identification number to verify membership. After creating your profile, you will click on “Apply for New Scholarship.” You will input the requested information and upload the two required supplemental documents:

• Previous semester grades, which helps us determine if you meet the 2.0 grade-point average requirement; and

• Class schedule, which helps us determine if you are full-time or part-time status.
After submission, students can log on at any time to check the status of their application. No paper applications
are accepted.

Do I have to fill out the application every semester?

Yes, you must submit a new application by the deadline each semester. Once you have completed your profile on the Education Portal, however, you will only need to update your current information each semester. This process will save you from having to enter the same information each time.

Am I eligible for a full-time or part-time tribal scholarship?

We use the Student Status Matrix to determine full-time versus part-time eligibility.

Undergraduate
Part-time: 11 credits or fewer
Full-time: 12 credits or more

Graduate
Part-time: 8 credits or fewer
Full-time: 9 credits or more

Summer student

Part-time: 5 credits or fewer
Full-time: 6 credits or more

If your institution considers full-time status using a different scale, you will use the “Additional Document” upload space on the Education Portal to provide correspondence or proof that you are full-time. Without such documentation, students are automatically classified using this matrix.

Who receives this scholarship check?

Unless otherwise requested on the portal, checks will be made co-payable to both the student and the university. Students with zero-balance documentation can request on the Education Portal to have the Tribal scholarship check made out in their name only. Checks will be mailed to the address identified by the student on the first page of the application.

What are the deadlines?

We adhere to strict deadlines to help us serve as many students as fairly as possible. The Tribal scholarship always opens at 8 a.m. Central Standard Time and closes 5 p.m. CST.
The Tribal scholarship application periods are as follows

Fall
Opens: July 15
Closes: September 15

Spring
Opens: November 15
Closes: February 15

Summer
Opens: March 15
Closes: June 15