Mayor Promotes Frank R. Ferguson Scholarship Program
May 14, 2003

It was a special pleasure to speak at the May 17 graduation ceremony at Kotzebue High School. I spoke about the college scholarship program that the Borough offers for our students and encouraged them to make full use of it. The Assembly appropriated $55,000 for the program for the coming year and the application deadline is August 15 for the Fall Semester and January 15 for the Spring Semester.

Individual awards can be up to $750 per semester or $500 per quarter. Payment of the scholarship amount will be made to the financial aide office of the college or university that the student attends. Funds can be used for tuition, books, fees and other college related expenses.

Applicants are required to submit the following information on their initial application: documentation of acceptance at a college or university; a complete budget forecast from that school; proof of residence in the Northwest Arctic Borough; and three letters of recommendation for first time applicants. Students must also be enrolled full-time with 12 or more credits for the semester.

There are also special qualifying considerations for part-time students at our local Chukchi College. If a student is carrying a minimum of three credits per quarter that lead toward a degree or certificate, they may also qualify for the scholarship.

After initial scholarship approval, the student may continue to receive funding as long as they remain in good standing with their school and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average. A full application will no longer be required.

Our generous scholarship program is an indication of the importance we place on higher education. Those who attend college and complete a degree will not only have more choices available to them when they consider a vocation - they are likely to have a higher income as well.

There are many jobs available to residents of our borough if they simply get the education needed to qualify and succeed. Within the region, there are many jobs with the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, Maniilaq Association, and other businesses and organizations that require specialized education and certification. Dozens of employees are hired from outside the region each year to perform those jobs because we don't have enough educated people here to fill them.

I would like to congratulate all of our 2003 high school graduates and wish them all success in chasing their individual dreams. If college is in your future, and I hope it is, the Borough stands ready to help you.