2008 Keepers of the Fire Scholarship Program

The “Keepers of the Fire Scholarship” is an annual scholarship program that awards 3 $500.00 scholarships to American Indian (Indigenous) students attending a college or university in the United States or Canada.  The scholarships are given in honor of my parents, Philip L. and Esther J. Niles.  My father, Philip Niles, was an enrolled tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma (descended from the Fox family clan) and dedicated his professional life to helping many American Indian tribes throughout the United States through his employment with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

My father was very proud of his ancestors and heritage. Even though he is now deceased, being an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma myself (traditional name of Wakshe – “Red Fox”), it is my way of supporting the education and capacity-building of the American Indian (Indigenous) student population. 

The John Sky Scholarship

The family of John Sky provides an educational scholarship in the name of John Sky to help a Bad River tribal member attend the college or technical school of their choice. John Sky was a full-blooded Chippewa Native American who lived on the Bad River Reservation.

The John Sky Scholarship will be given to a person who is accepted into or registered in a University of Wisconsin systems college or technical college and is working toward a college diploma or certificate. The scholarship is a one-time award of $750. The nominee must be a Bad River Tribal member and preferably residing on the reservation at the time of application.

Where to Find Money for College (by Jaynie Parrish)

ASU is one of the premier metropolitan public research universities in the nation; enrolling more than 63,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on four campuses in metropolitan Phoenix. ASU is home to 22 Tribal communities. In 1996, ASU had 672 Native American students, today ASU has over 1,400 Native students. Several collaborative efforts between ASU and Arizona Tribes focus on increasing student enrollment, student retention, and graduation rates.

Website:  http://www.asu.edu/president/zah/programs/documents/Wheretofindmoneyforcollege_JParrish.doc

The Sun Devil Promise

The Sun Devil Promise is our commitment to the children of Arizona and their parents. ASU promises to recruit, enroll, educate and advance Arizonans from every economic, social, and cultural background. ASU keeps this promise by providing Arizona's youth the financial and educational resources to succeed, regardless of their ability to pay.

Website:  http://www.asu.edu/enroll/promise/

ASU Advantage

ASU Advantage is designed to help Arizona students attend and graduate from ASU with a bachelor's degree.

Website:  http://www.asu.edu/fa/advantage/

The Edbesendowen Scholarship Program

Edbesendowen is a Potawatomi word that means “Humility.”   The spirit of this scholarship is the recognition of the importance of being humble and knowing that we are no more than the next. Our presence on Mother Earth is a gift. We are not more than the trees or the oceans. We are equal to all things that we share our planet with. We are not more than those who struggle or have no home.

Those that have taught me this important concept are remembered through this award.  This especially includes: