Youth Programs and Scholarship Opportunities

News and Events

The USET Scholarship Fund

What: The USET Education Committee will award all selected undergraduate applicants an equal amount in any award period. In addition, the USET Education Committee will award all selected graduate applicants an equal amount in any award period.

Who: Supplemental monies are awarded to USET area Indian students who are enrolled members of one of the thirty-three USET Member Tribal Nations.

When: The deadline date for postmarked or delivered applications is March 1, 2024.

Applications must be sent to:
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Fund
711 Stewarts Ferry Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Fax: 615-872-7417

Applications are reviewed according to the following criteria:

  1. satisfactory scholastic standing; and
  2. current enrollment or acceptance in a post-secondary educational institution.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

See the USET Scholarship Policies and Procedures (updated November 2023) for more details.

You can submit your application online or download the application below.

Download the USET Scholarship Application

Close Up Foundation

For more than 20 years, USET and Close Up have partnered during the USET/USET SPF Impact Week Meeting in Washington, DC. The Close Up Foundation brings youth from USET member Tribal Nations to DC to be involved in the democratic process through current issue debates, collaborative learning, and the development of citizenship skills, while also engaging with the USET/USET SPF Board of Directors.

During the 2023 USET/USET SPF Impact Week Meeting, Close Up students presented their projects at the Welcome Reception and had an opportunity to speak with Board members and Meeting participants. Close Up students also developed the 2023 USET Youth Statement on Sovereignty and presented it to the Board of Directors.

Scholarships will be available for youth from USET member Tribal Nations to participate in the Close Up program during the 2024 USET/USET SPF Impact Week Meeting. Contact Melissa Williams at the Close Up Foundation to learn more!

View pictures from the 2024 USET and Close Up.

Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship

The Aspirnaut™ research program is an intensive “boot camp” for biomedical research. The goal of this program is to provide high school students a laboratory experience in which they can play an active role in ongoing biomedical research and to guide students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. Interns will work a standard paid 40-hour work week in a research lab under the guidance of a mentor and research team. Throughout the week interns will also participate in lab meetings, luncheons with Vanderbilt faculty and staff, and ACT/GRE prep courses. For high school students, the resident advisors plan social activities around work time so that interns have opportunity to explore Nashville. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of seminars and social activities planned by Vanderbilt’s Summer Science Academy.

Additional information about the program, including the application, can be accessed at www.aspirnaut.org. Please share with your education departments and forward the application link to any students that you feel would make an excellent candidate for the summer internship program.

Other Native Youth Items of Interest

Scholarship Information and Resources

Below is a very small selection of available grant programs committed to helping Native American students further their education through college. Many more programs are available to college-bound Native Americans and Native Alaskans. Loads of research and diligence is the key to finding these invaluable financial aid programs. Begin your search for financial aid for college early to allow plenty of time to research and apply for grants and scholarships applicable to Natives.

Additional information

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