Citibank supports Native American college fund

Citibank supports Native American college fund

Despite the costs that are associated with higher education, many students may be eligible for a range of scholarship opportunities. Minority learners who demonstrate academic merit and financial need may find that a number of institutions provide tuition assistance for degree seekers with this background.

For example, the American Indian College Fund awards more than 6,000 scholarships per year to qualified students who seek to improve their lives and communities through education. In order to support these efforts, the Citi Foundation recently granted $75,000 to continue the Citi Foundation Scholarship and Career Exploration Program. The initiative provides tuition assistance to Native American students who wish to attend colleges in South Dakota, including Sisseton Wahpeton College, Oglala Lakota College and Sinte Gleska University.

The Citi Foundation also sponsors a career fair where students have the opportunity to meet Citi representatives, tribal program administrators as well as city and county department officials.

"For 15 years, the Citi Foundation has been supporting Native students' pursuit of higher education at South Dakota tribal colleges and universities," said Richard B. Williams, president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics financial aid may come in the form of scholarships, grants, student loans or federal work-study.

By Mark Danson