The American Indian Science and Engineering Society offers many scholarships, including the AASONA scholarship.
Students looking to pursue a STEM career with an agricultural focus may be eligible for the AASONA Scholarship (Advancing Agricultural Science Opportunities or Native Americans). The scholarship has very specific eligibility requirements, so it's essential to understand them before you apply.
Who is Eligible?
The basic eligibility requirements for the AASONA scholarship are as follows:
- You must pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree at a two or four-year college
- You must have at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA)
- You must be part of a recognized tribe (American Indian, Alaska Native Village, or Native Hawaiian Village)
If you are deemed eligible, you must also agree to work with others working in the same field. It is also a requirement to travel to the AISES National Conference and AISES Leadership Summit.
How to Apply for the AASONA Scholarship
You must create an account online in the OASIS scholarship system to begin applying for the AASONA scholarship. This account exists outside the AISES portal.
Once you log in, you must complete the entire application. You'll then be able to view the available scholarships. You'll be presented with questions about the scholarship you choose and then provide the necessary documentation as instructed. If you apply for more than one scholarship, you must apply for each one separately.
Once submitted, your application and documentation are subject to review. If you are chosen as a finalist, you'll likely be asked to supply additional documentation for the final process, though what that includes may vary from one applicant to the next.
How Much Money Can be Awarded, and When Is The Deadline?
The AASONA scholarship is relatively generous, awarding up to $5,000 per student per academic year.
Applicants may apply for the AASONA scholarship starting December 15th of each year; the application window closes on March 31st. The AISES reviews applications between April 1st to June 1st, and applicants that make it to the final stages will be notified by June 30th.
If you make it to the final stages, you have one month to accept the status and provide AISES with the necessary documentation.
How are Funds Distributed?
The AISES distributes funds between September 1st and November 30th. You must send in your fall grades and proof of your spring enrollment for spring distributions, including credit hours. Then, AISES direct deposits the funds in your account if you are eligible with spring payouts made between January 16th to March 31st.
Other Scholarships from AISES
The AASONA scholarship is one of many available scholarships that Native Americans can apply for. The others include:
- AISES A.T. Anderson Scholarship – Provides $1,000 scholarships for undergrads and $2,000 for graduate students
- AISES Chevron Scholarship – Provides $5,000 per academic year
- AISES ExxonMobil Geosciences Summer Fieldwork Scholarship – Provides $3,000 per year for undergrads
- AISES Intel Growing The Legacy Scholarship Program – Provides scholarships of $5,000 for undergrads and $10,000 for graduate students
If you're a Native American interested in a STEM career, exhaust your options for scholarships through the AISES, as many options can help make college more affordable.
