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Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program Is Up and Running at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Archive

10/26/2007


 

Contact: Sandy Connolly, Director of Communications
(651) 259-3902

The Minnesota Indian Scholarship program, which provides need-based grants to Minnesota residents attending public and private institutions in the state, was transferred to the Office of Higher Education from the Minnesota Department of Education on July 1, 2007. The program awarded $1.9 million in August to 485 students attending college this fall.

The Minnesota Indian Scholarship program awards scholarships to eligible students who have one-quarter Indian ancestry and whose college costs are not met through federal and state grants and other scholarships. The program was transferred to the Office of Higher Education, in part, to place it with other student financial aid programs managed by the agency. Megan FitzGibbon, the program's manager, was hired in August to administer the Indian Scholarship program and two other state financial aid programs. Applications, awards and disbursements are handled through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education in St. Paul.

Lara Gerhardson is on contract with the state to serve as the program's outreach liaison. She is based in Bemidji and works to promote awareness of the program among schools, tribal organizations and scholarship agencies. She is available to make presentations and counsel students.

Lara Gerhardson
Minnesota Indian Scholarship
Tel: (218) 755-2270
E-mail: MISP.Lara@hotmail.com

"This important program enables students to reach their dream of attending college," said Susan Heegaard, Director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. "When combined with federal, state and other aid available to students, the Minnesota Indian Scholarship can make a life-changing difference for students."

For more information about the program, visit www.ohe.state.mn.us/indianscholarship.


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