USDA/1994
 Tribal Scholars Program

Application Booklet

For Students Attending
1994 Land-Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities
Seeking careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences, 
and/or other related disciplines

What are the benefits of the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program?
THE AWARD
Scholarships are awarded annually and must be used at one of the thirty-two 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, the accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities, also known as 1994 TCUs.
USDA agencies provide scholars with the following benefits:
•	Full payment of tuition, required fees, and books
•	Loan of a USDA computer (laptop, printer, and software)
•	Transportation stipend
•	One-week orientation in Washington, DC
•	Mentoring, tutoring, career development, and leadership training
•	Paid summer employment/internship with sponsoring USDA agency
•	Permanent USDA position upon completion of the program
What are the eligibility requirements for the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program?
Eligibility requirements for the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program are as follows: Applicants must be U.S. citizens who have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. certificate and are either an incoming freshman who has demonstrated an aptitude and interest in an agriculture related field or an existing student who has declared themselves a student in an agriculture related majors. Applicant must:
•	Begin their educational career at a 1994 Land-Grant Institution
•	Demonstrate an interest in public service and pursuing a career with USDA
•	Have a recommended minimum GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
•	Study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related disciplines   
•	Not yet have a bachelor’s degree
•	Be a U.S. citizen

PAYBACK
The USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program recipients incur an obligation of 1 year of service to USDA for each year of scholarship support received (or the part-time equivalent) with a minimum service period of 1 year at either a Washington, DC, USDA agency or a USDA field office, which may or may not be close to the Scholar’s home community. 

USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars
Program Application

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0503-0016. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 3.5 hours per response, including the time needed for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Privacy Act Advisory Statement
The Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection with this request for information.
Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised:

1. The authority for the collection of these data is Executive Order 11155.

2. Furnishing the information requested is voluntary.
3. The data will be used for selection of USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars, printing of certificates, and related activities.

4. Other routine uses of the data are for preparation of the public affairs and press releases to news media.

This is a fillable form. Please complete on a computer if possible.

Affirmation of Candidacy and Authorization for Release Information
I,           
understand that I am a candidate for the honor of USDA/1994 Tribal Scholar, have read the Privacy Act Advisory Statement, and affirm that I wish to be considered. In the event I am named a USDA/1994 Tribal Scholar, permission is hereby given for the release of materials submitted by me for the use of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the thirty-two 1994 Land-Grant Institutions as deemed appropriate for purposes of the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program. I further consent to the release of photographs which may be taken of me, by or for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in connection with the Program. I am (check one) willing  unwilling  to appear on radio and/or television if such arrangements can be made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in connection with the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program.

Signature:	     
Date:       

Section I. Biographical Information

1. Legal Name in Full:      

2. Permanent Home Address:      

3. Sex:      

4. Telephone:      		

5. Are you a U.S. Citizen? Yes  No 

Section II. Education

1. Name of High School:      

2. Location (City & State):      

3. Telephone:      

4. School Counselor Contact:      

5. Contact Telephone:      

6. Cumulative High School GPA (4.0 Scale):      

7. Or GED Received (date):      

8. Are you currently enrolled in college? Yes  No 

9. Name of college in which you are currently enrolled (if applicable):
     

10. Declared/Intended Major:      

11. College/University Advisor (if available):      

12. College/University Advisor Telephone:      

13. College Address:      

11. List any other school or college you have attended in the last 4 years. List the schools in order of attendance with the one you attended most recently first.
Name of School	Location (City & State)	Dates of Attendance	
     
	     	     	
     
	     	     	
     
	     	     	

12. List any advanced or special programs, or summer courses, you have taken, listing the most recent first.

Course/Program	Name of School	Location (City& State)	Dates of
Attendance	Hours/
Week	
     
	     	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	     	

13. What course of study (major) will you pursue if you were to receive a USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Award?

1st Choice:      

2nd Choice:      

14. What 1994 TCU do you want to attend? 

1st Choice:      

2nd Choice:      

3rd Choice:      

Section III. Transcripts

If you have received no college credit, you must provide an official signed and sealed transcript from your high school and include it with your application. If you have received any college credit, you must provide an official signed and sealed transcript from every college or university you have attended and include them with your application. The USDA/1994 Program will accept an unofficial transcript from the college registrar provided it meets the deadline and a receipt from the registrar is included indicating an official, signed transcript is being sent.

If not a high school applicant, please have the official, signed and sealed transcript sent to the USDA Tribal College Liaison that represents the school or schools you want to attend. If you want to attend more than one school and that school is represented by another USDA Tribal College Liaison, you must complete another application package and have it sent to her. Please see Appendix 1 of this application for the contact information of the appropriate USDA Tribal College Liaison for each Tribal College and University.

Section IV. Course of Study

The USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program offers support for an Associate’s Degree (up to 2 Years of support) or a Bachelor’s of Science Degree (up to 4 Years of support).

I am applying for:
Place an X in the box that applies.
	1-Year Scholarship Support (student will have completed at least 1 year of coursework in an Associate’s degree program before award period OR is a rising senior in Bachelor’s degree program	
	2-Year Scholarship Support (student will be a new entering student who plans to enroll in an Associate’s degree program OR is a rising junior in a Bachelor’s degree program).	
	3-Year Scholarship Support (student will have completed at least 1 year of coursework in a Bachelor’s degree program OR the first year in an Associate’s/Bachelor’s degree program).	
	4-Year Scholarship Support (student will be a new entering student who plans to enroll in a Bachelor’s degree program OR the first year in an Associate’s/Bachelor’s degree program).	

1. Are you currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in an Associate’s Degree (2-Year) Program?
 Yes. If yes, please indicate field of study:     
 No

2. Are you enrolled in or planning to enroll in a Bachelor’s Degree Program?
 Yes. If yes, please indicate field of study:      
 No

3. Are you currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in an Associate’s Degree (2-Year) Program and plan with the intention of transferring to a Bachelor’s Degree Program elsewhere (“2 + 2 Program”)? 
 Yes
 No

4. If yes, please indicate whether it is your first or second year. 1st Year  2nd Year 

5. If yes, which educational institution will you choose to attend once you transfer?
1st Choice:      
2nd Choice:      
3rd Choice:      

6. What will you study at this institution?      

7. List any activities in which you have participated in or outside school, i.e. sports, music, student government, clubs, church, civic, etc.
Activity	Dates of Participation	Offices Held	Special Awards, honors,
recognition	
     
	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	

8. List all volunteer services or jobs held in the last three years.
Volunteer services/Jobs	Name of Employer
/organization	Dates of service
/employment	Hours
/Week	Special Awards	
     
	     	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	     	
     
	     	     	     	     	

Section VI. Essay Question

Essay must be addressed to the USDA/1994 Selection Committee
Write a 500-800 word essay describing 1) How you became interested in studying food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences or another related discipline in college; (2) How USDA will benefit if you are selected for the USDA Tribal Scholars Program (immediately and in the long term); and (3) What motivated you to consider a career in public service working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture? Include information about your educational and career goals and how this scholarship may assist you to achieve them. 

Section VII. Recommendation Instructions

You will need to submit two letters of recommendation from two different sources addressing the following question: “Considering what you know of the applicant’s interests, work habits, and life goals, what is your assessment of the chances that the applicant will be motivated to take advantage of the opportunities available in college and within the federal public service system, especially the United States Department of Agriculture?” One recommendation must be from someone who knows your academic work. The second recommendation can be from (as an example) a current or previous school counselor, teacher, principal, tribal college and university president, or employer. Make sure the recommendation is from someone who knows you well and can provide comments on your abilities.

VIII. USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Application Check List

□   I have read this section, especially those elements detailing the eligibility requirements, schools that I must attend, and the February 1st deadline in which my completed application package must be postmarked.

□	I have filled out Section I. 

□	I have filled out Section II.  I understand Section II must be postmarked no later than February 1st, in order to meet the eligibility requirements.

□	I have included an official signed and sealed transcript or have included an unofficial copy of my transcript from the college registrar and a receipt from the same registrar to indicate that the official copy will be received shortly from the schools I have attended and have included any and all in my application package to complete Section III.

□	I have filled out Section IV. 

□	I have filled out Section V. 

□	I have written my essay and included it in my application to complete Section VI. 

□	I have provided the Recommendation Instructions to my recommenders and have ensured that one of them knows my academic work to complete Section VII. 

Section IX. Signatures
Please review this form to make sure you have answered all the questions completely.
I certify that I have completed this application and that all statements are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Any false statements may eliminate me from consideration for this scholarship.

     	
Signature of Applicant 					

     
Date

     
Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian (if applicant is under 18 years of age)  

     	
Date

Appendix 1

Please Note: This appendix is for reference only. Please do not send with application materials.

WESTERN REGION 1994 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS CONTACT INFORMATION

Velma Real Bird
USDA Tribal College Liaison – WESTERN REGION
1994 Programs
United States Department of Agriculture 
Little Big Horn College
PO Box 370
Crow Agency, MT 59022
TEL: (406) 638-3194, Mobile: 202-657-9989
FAX (406) 638-3169
Email: Velma.Realbird@ascr.usda.gov and realbirdv@lbhc.cc.mt.us

WESTERN REGION 1994 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

Blackfeet Community College: PO Box 819, Browning, MT 59417
www.bfcc.org; Financial Aid, TEL: 406-338-5421

Chief Dull Knife College: PO Box 98, Lame Deer, MT 59043
www.cdkc.edu; TEL: 406-477-6215

Diné College, Arizona/New Mexico campuses, PO Box 126, Tsaile, AZ 86556 
www.dinecollege.edu; Admissions, TEL: 918-724-6630; Email: registrar@dinecollege.edu

Fort Belknap College: PO Box 159, Harlem, MT 59526
www.fbcc.edu; Admissions, TEL: 406-353-2607, Ext. 233. Financial Aid, TEL: 353-2607, Ext. 235

Fort Peck Community College: PO Box 398, Poplar, MT 59255
www.fpcc.edu; Financial Aid, TEL: 406-768-6327; Email: lclark@fpcc.edu

Ilisagvik College: PO Box 749, Barrow, AK 99723
www.ilisagvik.cc; TEL: 907-852-3333

Institute of American Indian Arts: 83 Avan Nu Po Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87508
www.iaia.edu; Admissions, TEL: 505-424-2332

Little Big Horn College: PO Box 370, Crow Agency, MT 59022
www.lbhu.edu; Admissions, TEL: 406-638-3116; Email: tina@lbhc.cc.mt.us

Navajo Technical College: PO Box 849, Crownpoint, NM 87313
www.navajotech.edu; Admissions, TEL: 505-786-4107, Ext. 14107. Financial Aid, TEL: 505-786-4183, Ext. 14183 

Northwest Indian College: 2522 Kwina Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226
www.nwic.edu; Admissions, TEL: 360-392-4269. Financial Aid, TEL: 360-392-4206
Salish Kootenai College: PO Box 70, Pablo, MT 59855
www.skc.edu; Admissions, TEL: 406-275-4866; Email: jackie_moran@skc.edu. Financial Aid, TEL: 406-275-4855; Email: elaine_frank@skc.edu

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute: 9169 Coors Rd., NW, PO Box 10146, Albuquerque, NM 87184. www.sipi.edu; Admissions, TEL: 505-346-2338. Financial Aid, TEL: 505-346-2344

Stone Child College: RR1, Box 1082, Box Elder, MT 59521
www.stonechild.edu; TEL: 406-395-4875

Tohono O’odham Community College: PO Box 3129, Sells, AZ 85634 
www.tocc.cc.az.us; TEL: 520-383-8401

CENTRAL REGION 1994 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS CONTACT INFORMATION

Lisa Yellow
USDA Tribal College Liaison –CENTRAL REGION
1994 Programs
United States Department of Agriculture 
Sitting Bull College
1341 92nd Street
Fort Yates, ND 58538
TEL: (701) 854-8130, Mobile: 202-657-9977 
FAX: (701) 854-3403
Email:  Lisa.Yellow@ascr.usda.gov and lisay@sbci.edu

CENTRAL REGION 1994 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

Cankdeska Cikana Community College: PO Box 269, Fort Totten, ND 58335
www.littlehoop.edu; TEL: 701-766-4415; Email: info@littlehoop.cc

Fort Berthold Community College: 220 8th Avenue North, PO Box 490, New Town, ND 58763
www.fbcc.bia.edu; Admissions, TEL: 701-627-4738, Ext. 286. Financial Aid, TEL: 701-627-4738, Ext. 245

Haskell Indian Nations University: 155 Indian Ave., PO Box 5030, Lawrence, KS 66046-4800
www.haskell.edu; Admissions, TEL: 785-749-8454. Financial Aid, TEL: 785-749-8468

Leech Lake Tribal College: PO Box 180, Cass Lake, MN 56633
www.lltc.edu; Admissions, TEL: 218-335-4222; Email: veronica.veauz@lltc.edu. Financial Aid, TEL: 218-335-4200

Little Priest Tribal College: PO Box 270, Winnebago, NE 68071
www.lptc.bia.edu; Admissions, TEL: 402-878-3360; Email: darlaw@lptc.bia.gov

Nebraska Indian Community College: College Hill, PO Box 428, Macy, NE 68039
www.thenicc.edu; Admissions, TEL: 402-837-5078

Oglala Lakota College: 490 Piya Wiconi Rd., Kyle, SD 57752
 www.olc.edu; Admissions, TEL: 605-455-6033; Email: lmesteth@olc.edu. Financial Aid, TEL: 605-455-6037; Email: bhornbeck@olc.edu

Sinte Gleska University: 101 Antelope Lake Circle, PO Box 105, Mission, SD 57555
www.sintegleska.edu; TEL: 605-856-8100

Sisseton Wahpeton Community College: Agency Village Box 689, Sisseton, SD 57262
www.swc.tc; Financial Aid, TEL: 605-698-3966, Ext. 1182; Email: jmanylightnings@swc.tc

Sitting Bull College: 1341 92nd St., Fort Yates, ND 58538
 www.sittingbull.edu; TEL: 701-854-8000; Email: info@sbci.edu

Turtle Mountain Community College: PO Box 340, Belcourt, ND 58316
 www.tm.edu; Admissions, TEL: 701-477-7862

United Tribes Technical College: 3315 University Dr., Bismarck, ND 58504; www.uttc.edu; Admissions, TEL: 701-255-3285

White Earth Tribal & Community College: 210 Main St. South, PO Box 478, Mahnomen, MN 56557
www.wetcc.org; Financial Aid, TEL: 218-936-5731

EASTERN REGION 1994 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS CONTACT INFORMATION

Stephanie Koziski
1994 Program Analyst and 
USDA Tribal College Liaison –EASTERN REGION
USDA/1994 Programs Office
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
United States Department of Agriculture
300 7th Street SW, Suite 266
Washington, D.C. 20024
TEL: (202) 205-4490
FAX: (202) 205-3831
Email: Stephanie.Koziski@ascr.usda.gov

EASTERN REGION 1994 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

Bay Mills Community College: 12214 West Lakeshore Dr., Brimley, MI 49715
www.bmcc.edu; TEL: 906-248-3354

College of Menominee Nation: PO Box 1179, Keshena, WI 54135, 
www.menominee.edu; Admissions, TEL: 1-800-567-2344. Financial Aid, TEL: 715-794-6226

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College: 1720 Big Lake Rd., Cloquet, MN 55720
www.fdltcc.edu; Admissions, TEL: 218-879-0808; Email: admissions@fdltcc.edu. Financial Aid; TEL: 218-879-0816; Email: dsutherland@fdltcc.edu

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College: 13466 West Trepania Rd., Hayward, WI 54843
www.lco.edu; TEL: 715-634-4790

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College: 2274 Enterprise Dr., Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, 
www.sagchip.edu; TEL: 989-775-4123

Appendix 2

QUALIFYING DISCIPLINES for the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program

 “Food and agricultural sciences” (as defined by the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103 (8))) means: Basic, applied, and developmental research, extension, and teaching activities in food and fiber, agricultural, renewable natural resources, forestry, and physical and social sciences, including activities relating to the following: (a) animal health, production, and well-being; (b) plant health and production; (c) animal and plant germplasm collection and preservation; (d) aquaculture; (e) food safety; (f) soil and water conservation and improvement; (g) forestry, horticulture, and range management; (h) nutritional sciences and promotion; (i) farm enhancement, including financial management, input efficiency, and profitability; (j) home economics; (k) rural human ecology; (l) youth development and agricultural education, including 4-H clubs; (m) expansion of domestic and international markets for agricultural commodities and products, including agricultural trade barrier identification and analysis; (n) information management and technology transfer related to agriculture; (o) biotechnology related to agriculture; and (p) the processing, distributing, marketing, and utilization of food and agricultural products.

The following disciplines are examples of possible majors and interests for students to consider:

Sciences:  
•	Agriculture
•	Agronomy
•	Animal Science
•	Biological Sciences 
•	Botany
•	Chemistry
•	Computer Engineering
•	Computer Science Specialist
•	Computer Scientist
•	Engineering
•	Entomology
•	Food
•	Forestry
•	Genetics
•	Mathematics
•	Microbiology
•	Natural Resources Management
•	Nutrition
•	Public Health
•	Soil Conservation 
•	Statistics
•	Veterinary Medicine
•	Zoology

Administrative/Professional 
Intern Program
•	Accounting
•	Administrative Officer
•	Agricultural Marketing/Business
•	Auditing 
•	Budget
•	Civil Rights 
•	Compliance Officer
•	Computer Specialist
•	Contracting
•	Economics
•	Finance
•	Human Resources
•	Information Technology Specialist 
•	Investigation
•	Journalism
•	Loan Specialist
•	Policy Analyst
•	Political Science
•	Program/Management Analyst
•	Public Administration
•	Public Affairs
•	Research Economics
•	Social Science
•	Telecommunications
•	Other Appropriate Administrative/Professional Occupations

AUTHORITIES

5 Code of Federal Regulations Part 213—Excepted Service, Student Educational Employment Program—Student Career Experience Program
5 Code of Federal Regulations Part 410—Training
Equity in Education Land Grant Status of 1994
Executive Orders 12015 and 13270
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990; P.L. 101-624, Sec. 2501, Sec. 2830
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002; P.L. 107-171; H.R. 2646
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
USDA/1994 Programs
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC  20250
Tel: (202) 720-1772
Fax: (202) 205-3831
Website: http:www.ascr.usda.gov/1994program.html
Email: 1994init@usda.gov

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or 
because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's 
TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."

USDA is an equal opportunity employer. 

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or 
because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's 
TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."

USDA is an equal opportunity employer.