American Indian College Fund Minneapolis Education Event to Address Increasing Number of American Indian College Graduates

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Nov 18, 2015, 07:00 ET

DENVER, Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Less than 1% of American Indian students are in college today, and only 13% today have a college degree—half of the national average—making them the most underserved group in America. The American Indian College Fund is hosting an event in Minneapolis to discuss how American Indian scholars can overcome the odds to get a college degree, and to share a strategy about how to increase their numbers.

The event will take place Tuesday, December 8 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Guest speaker is Cholena Smith, an American Indian College Fund scholar, member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation of Long Island, and magna cum laude graduate of Stony Brook University with a degree in anthropology and sociology. Formerly the Education Program Manager of the Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum, Ms. Smith uses her education to develop cultural programs, trainings, and projects with the Shinnecock Cultural Resources Department to educate the public on Shinnecock heritage and critical environmental issues. She also works as a cultural enrichment and language instructor, develops policies and procedures including tribal historic preservation work, and provides her expertise to the department's ethnobotany project in collaboration with the Macaulay Honors College of City University of New York and the New York Botanical Gardens. Ms. Smith is also applying to attend school to earn a doctorate degree in anthropology so that she can develop Native studies curricula.

Complimentary cocktails and appetizers will be served.

To attend please R.S.V.P. by November 30 to www.collegefund.org/twin-cities-network. For more information contact Hannah Urano at [email protected] or (303) 429-4191.

About the American Indian College Fund
Founded in 1989, the American Indian College Fund has been the nation's largest charity supporting Native higher education for more than 25 years. The College Fund has provided more than 100,000 scholarships since its inception and an average of 6,000 scholarships per year to American Indian students and a variety of programs to support their academic efforts ensuring they have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. For more information, please visit www.collegefund.org.

SOURCE American Indian College Fund