American Indian College Fund to Award 16 Scholarships to First-Generation Native Students through $100,000 Donation from the Walmart Foundation

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Jul 24, 2012, 07:00 ET

DENVER, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Indian College Fund will award 16 scholarships to first-generation, first-time Native tribal college students through a $100,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. For more than a decade, the Walmart Foundation has funded Native student scholarships through the American Indian College Fund. This year, the Walmart Foundation's donation will continue the Walmart Tribal College Scholarship Program, providing students with scholarships for the duration of two years. Under the program, three scholars will also be selected to attend a professional networking and education conference aligned with their career goals.

The goal of the Walmart Tribal College Scholarship Program is to increase American Indian students' access to college. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010), only 13% of Native Americans received a bachelor's degree as their highest degree, contrasted with the national average of 28%.

"Walmart's continued support generously helps 33 tribal college students pay for school and sets them on a path for success," said Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund. "Their assistance helps lift students and their families out of poverty, impacting their lives and their communities."

About the American Indian College Fund
With its credo "Educating the Mind and Spirit," the American Indian College Fund is the nation's largest private provider of scholarships for American Indian students, providing an average of 3,500 students with scholarships annually, and support to the nation's 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org

SOURCE American Indian College Fund