The Eyak Foundation

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The Eyak Foundation

  • About Us
    • Trustees
  • Latest News
  • Scholarships
    • New Student Scholarship Application Form
    • Download Scholarship Forms
    • Other Resources
  • Financial
  • Home
The Eyak Foundation
The Eyak Foundation
The Eyak Foundation
The Eyak Foundation
The Eyak Foundation
The Eyak Foundation

Scholarship Instructions

*PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU PROCEED*

 

The Foundation has awarded scholarships annually since 1997.  They are awarded from funding gifted to The Eyak Foundation by The Eyak Corporation, Eyak Technology, LLC and other private parties.


The Eyak Foundation provides opportunities for financial aid to eligible and qualified students who are planning on taking or are already taking courses of study to prepare for careers or to upgrade skills for career opportunities beyond high school.


To date, the Foundation has awarded over $550,000 in scholarships. 


Students planning on attending traditional “academic year” collegiate or vocational programs that start in the autumn and finish in late spring should apply during the Spring application period.


Spring Semester & Vocational Schools
Deadline for application submission: 30 days prior to the start of your semester
Students planning on attending academic or vocational programs that run from January 1st until June 30th should apply for a scholarship during this cycle.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be eligible for a scholarship award:

  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Be a Native shareholder of The Eyak Corporation or a lineal descendant of a Native shareholder
  • Be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university; vocational education school; or continuing education program and if applicable have maintained at least a 2.0 GPA during a college career
  • A complete application must be postmarked or delivered in person by the applicable deadline in order to be considered for an award. Applications postmarked after the deadline date will be disqualified. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No exceptions.

Requirements: Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for scholarship funds:

1. Financial need
2. Have a high school diploma or equivalent
3. Be a Native shareholder of The Eyak Corporation or a lineal descendant of a Native shareholder.
4. Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university, vocational education school, job training program, or continuing education program and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average.

The materials listed below must be submitted on or before the deadline:

1. Online Application Submitted

2. Proof of lineal descent of a original Eyak Corporation shareholder (first time applicants)

3. Two letters of recommendation (first time applicants)

4. An official copy of your high school or GED transcripts or, if you are already in a program, an official copy of your college or program transcripts. If applicable, a certificate showing completion of courses in an accredited vocational institute. (first time applicants) "Returning Scholarship Questions" (repeat applicants)

5. Typed personal history and education goal essay (must be new each year)

6. Proof of acceptance from college/university/vocational or training program

7. Course description and requirements of institution for full-time students

8. Recent photograph; wallet size preferred. Please upload photo on application page.


Condition of Award:

A scholarship award is only to be used for tuition, room and board, fees, books, and course-required supplies. Funds will be distributed directly to the academic or vocational institution that administers the funds on behalf of the student on a per semester basis. Once the scholarship is granted, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that a copy of final grades and his/her official transcript is sent to The Eyak Foundation immediately upon completion of each semester or course. Second semester funds for the student will not be released until final grades are received.


Academic Probation:

For those students currently on academic probation for failing to meet the 2.0 GPA requirement for the previous term, grades must show improvement to a 2.0 GPA to qualify for the second semester funding. For those students who fail to meet the 2.0 GPA requirement for the completed term, the student will be put on probation the following term; they will continue to receive funding. If they complete the next term with at least a 2.0 GPA, they will be removed from probation. Should they fail to complete the term with a 2.0 GPA, they will be ineligible for funding from Eyak Foundation during the next application cycle.


Should for any reason the scholarship not be used, the full amount or any portion remaining is refundable to The Eyak Foundation.


Election Criteria:

The final review and scoring of scholarship applications will be done by The Eyak Foundation Board of Trustees. The applications will be evaluated using uniform review criteria. The applications, with names removed, are scored, ranked, and awarded. Particular emphasis is put on personal essays, grade point average, and letters of recommendation. Students are strongly encouraged to explore all available sources of funding, including personal contribution.

*READY TO GET STARTED? CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW*

 

Testimonials

Heidi VanGilder

"The Eyak Foundation is wonderful in so many ways! Not only did it help with finances but it made me feel supported by my Corporation. It is an amazing feeling knowing you have help and support along the way. I will soon be helping my daughter fill out her scholarship application. I am grateful and thankful the opportunity is there for me and my children, to keep passing it along to the next generation to help with educational growth. I now get to give back in another form that brings me so much happiness and joy, being the Program Coordinator for The Eyak Foundation. I love being able to have the opportunity to help Shareholders and Descendants receive their scholarship funding and to give back to the Foundation that has helped me. I am very proud to be apart of The Eyak Corporation and The Eyak Foundation, I feel my best when I am helping others."

Heidi VanGilder, Scholarship Recipient

Rikki Addy

"I am forever grateful to The Eyak Foundation (TEF) for helping me reach my educational goals through their scholarship program. Admittedly, I wasn’t 100% sure how I would pay for tuition and books for college after I was accepted, but my mom suggested I check with TEF to see what they offered. The scholarship TEF provided helped ease the financial burden I felt so that I could focus less on the financial aspect of college and more on learning. I’ve always remembered that sense of relief I felt - so much so that it has driven my desire to stay active with The Eyak Corporation (TEC) to this day. I want to ensure that meaningful scholarships are available for our Shareholders and Descendants today and in perpetuity - and I want to ensure TEC is successful and able to provide meaningful returns to all current and future Shareholders. This sense of wanting to give back is directly attributable to that first scholarship I received. Thank you, TEF!"

Rikki Addy, Scholarship Recipient

Rockele Jones

"It was a dream of mine to go to college, play sports, and find a passion that I would eventually call my career. In 1996 I graduated from Cordova High School and couldn’t wait to spread my wings and see what this world had in store for me. The Eyak Foundation was one of several native scholarships that I received that helped me achieve my goal and earned my bachelors degree in 2001 in accounting. Fast forward a few years and I decided that I wanted to learn something new and rewarding, so I returned to school and received my certification in Massage Therapy. I love both of these skills of mine and still use both of them today. I have been blessed with the support from my family, community, native corporations, and the drive and determination to make it all happen. Find a dream or passion and go for it!"

Rockele Jones, Scholarship Recipient

Jerry O'Brien

"After my military career I was excited to start my college experience. I wanted to become a Civil/Structural Engineer. I always thought that it was exciting to see the finished product and say “I contributed to that!”. I remember I was very proud of being a recipient of an Eyak Corporation Scholarship. Applying for any scholarship was at many times an arduous task involving much information gathering and your time. College itself took a lot of time! I spent a fair amount of time applying – fishing for scholarships and putting the ‘hooks’ out there. As small as our Corp. may have been I was over-joyed to be able to receive anything. I was a married man, and a father of two when I started my college experience. As with many young families, finances weren’t always the easiest to come by. Being a recipient of the Eyak Scholarship allowed me to fill the financial gaps where my job was unable to, and allow me to concentrate on studies as opposed to have to work a double-shift to make that gap.

I was proud to be a recipient. I was proud to be more than just Jerry alone out there on my own trying to get it on my own. It was good to know that there was an entire corporation comprised of my native brothers and sisters behind me to support me to keep my eye on the prize! I was successful in earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Double Major in Mathematics and Structural Engineering.

Fast forward to now and I am able to contribute positively to my people serving as Board of Director. I also have a productive career as a Civil Engineer / Construction Project Manager. Thank You for that support for the Board and for the Scholarships!

Today my sons Dillon & Hunter are also able to receive Eyak Scholarships to support their college ambitions too! Dillon is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Hunter is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and has received his Sport Pilot License and is continuing on to the next level of that Licensure.

Quayana! To all those that support our Eyak Corp. Heritage Foundation. You have sewn positively into Generations!

Jerry O'Brien, Scholarship Recipient
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Contact Information:

The Eyak Foundation
615 E. 82nd Ave, Suite 300
Anchorage, Alaska 99518

Email: hvangilder@eyakfoundation.org
Phone: (907) 334-6971
Fax: (907) 334-6973