19 Native
Students Receive Wal-Mart Scholarships From the American Indian
College Fund
DENVER,
Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nineteen American Indian
students at five tribal colleges have been awarded Wal-Mart
Foundation scholarships through a $10,000 contribution made
to the American Indian College Fund by Wal-Mart stores and
SAM'S CLUBS through their Good Works community involvement
program.
The five schools are among the 34 tribally-controlled colleges
and universities in 12 states that are affiliated with the
American Indian College Fund. They are Cankdeska Cikana Community
College in Fort Totten, N.D.; Fond du Lac Tribal & Community
College in Cloquet, Minn.; Little Priest Tribal College in
Winnebago, Neb.; Nebraska Indian Community College in Macy,
Neb.; and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque,
N.M. The Wal- Mart scholarships ranged from $100 to $1,000
per student.
The
scholarship recipients, who received their Wal-Mart stipends
in the Spring 2003 term, and their tribal affiliations are:
Cankdeska
Cikana Community College |
Fond
du Lac Tribal & Community College |
Jessica
McKay, Spirit Lake Sioux
Amy Redfox, Spirit Lake Sioux
Justin Yankton, Spirit Lake Sioux
|
Robert
Dess, Menominee
Ruth Porter, Bois Forte Chippewa
|
|
|
Little
Priest Tribal College |
Southwestern
Indian Polytechnic Institute |
Kandyce
Horn, Winnebago
Melanie Huerta, Omaha
Faith Means, Oglala Lakota
Lena Monrroy, Winnebago
Misty Nez, Winnebago
Angie Walker, Winnebago
Phyllis Ware, Winnebago
|
Darralynn
Hill, Crow
David Jaramillo, Chemehuevi
Angeline Moore, Navajo
Varlene Wayne, Navajo
Troy Webster, Menominee
|
|
|
Nebraska
Indian Community College |
|
Sara
Cota, Omaha
Bernerd Jackson, Omaha
|
|
|
|
Wal-Mart's
underwriting of the scholarships was made in recognition and
celebration of American Indian Heritage Month in November
2002. In 1990, the U.S. Congress officially declared the month
of November as American Indian Heritage Month. As a consistent
sponsor, Wal-Mart continues to further the American Indian
College Fund's mission to enhance the quality of education
by providing financial assistance to deserving American Indian
students and raising operating funds for the tribal colleges
and universities.
"These
students are our future," said Delia Garcia, senior manager
of corporate affairs at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s headquarters
in Bentonville, Ark. "Every one of them has tremendous
potential to do great things. Wal-Mart is proud to support
their educational ambitions and be part of their future success."
She noted that Wal-Mart is one of the leading private employers
of American Indians in the United States.
Wal-Mart
also will be a sponsor of the American Indian College Fund's
annual Elders Holiday Dinner serving the Denver American Indian
community in December. With Wal-Mart's grant of $1,750, the
Fund will be able to purchase a toy for each elder to give
to a grandchild. It is a gift that gives twice. This will
be the second year in a row that Wal-Mart has sponsored the
popular community event which features Native dishes and a
special performance by a local drum group.
The
American Indian College Fund, established in 1989, has spent
more than a decade helping increase educational opportunities
for Native students. With its credo "educating the mind and
spirit," the Denver-based nonprofit distributes scholarships
and support to the tribal colleges. This aid directly supports
more than 6,000 scholarships each year. The Fund also supports
endowments, developmental needs and public awareness, as well
as college programs in Native cultural preservation and teacher
training. More information on the Fund is at www.collegefund.org
.
Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc., operates 2,942 discount stores, Supercenters
and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 530 SAM'S CLUBS in
the United States. Last year, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., contributed
more than $150 million to support communities and local non-profit
organizations. Customers raised an additional $75 million
with the help of our stores and clubs. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
has received the 2003 Fortune magazine No. 1 Most Admired
Company in the U.S., along with receiving the 2002 Ron Brown
Award, the highest Presidential Award recognizing outstanding
achievement in employee relations and community initiatives.
More information about Wal-Mart can be located online at www.walmartstores.com
and www.walmart.com . The SAM'S CLUB Web site can be accessed
at www.samsclub.com . And more information about Wal-Mart's
Good Works community involvement is available online at www.walmartfoundation.org
.
Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; American Indian College
Fund
|