Award: Varies depending on the annual budget; multiple recipients per year.
KEF offers merit-based scholarships to Alaska Native Koniag Shareholders and registered Descendants. These scholarships are competitive and are scored by an independent scholarship review committee. All eligible applicants will receive funds. Applicants with the highest rated. Applications, Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and GPA scores will receive the largest scholarship amounts. Please note that the KEF General Scholarship is considered a supplementary scholarship, students are encouraged to pursue as many other scholarships as possible as well as complete the FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid). Please look on our website to see other funding options.KEF is a private nonprofit and IRS regulations require that all scholarship funds must be disbursed directly to the university and cannot be applied to accounts in arrears (past due). Applications must be time-stamped by the posted deadline Alaska Standard Time; late applications will not be considered.
Basic Requirements:
Applicants must be Alaska Native Koniag Shareholders or registered Descendants (may be adopted) of the Koniag Region. Applicants are required to have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and make satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution. However, if a student does not meet this requirement, KEF does have a Step-Up program for students with less than a 2.5 GPA to receive a short-term scholarship for up to one school year as they work to improve their GPA and meet the 2.5 requirements.Applicants who are not currently enrolled as a Koniag Shareholder or a registered Descendant must apply with Koniag Shareholder Relations first to be eligible for future scholarships at https://www.koniag.com/our-shareholders/records-forms/.Members of the Koniag Education Foundation Board of Directors and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply for KEF scholarships or grants.Applicants must be accepted or attending an accredited college for a minimum of 6 credits/units (2 classes) per term.Applicants must have attained a high school diploma or GED by May 31 of the application year.Applicants must meet all other KEF eligibility requirements and be in good standing with KEF.What Information Will I Need to Complete the Application?
Your Koniag Shareholder or Descendant ID number. A recent Resume that describes the applicant’s employment history, school activities, volunteer/community service, awards/honors, and any additional education/training. (2-page maximum)Most recent high school, GED, or college transcript(s). If you have attended two or more colleges, provide the average cumulative GPA.Letter of Recommendation:New applicants are required to provide one letter of recommendation (LOR), which must be signed and dated less than one year from the close of the scholarship date. The letter(s) can be from an employer, teacher, coach, etc., but not a family member. The recommender should indicate how long they have known the applicant, how they know them, and speak directly to the student's ability to complete their degree program successfully. Continuing students (those who received a KEF General in the previous academic year) are not required to resubmit an LOR.The Essay is the most important piece of your application. Please answer the questions and stay on topic, you will be scored on each answer.Ensure spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct. Hint: Read the essay back to yourself out loud! The essay should be 500 words minimum two pages maximum.
Below are the essay requirements for all applicants but there are there are three types of applicants:
New students or students returning after some time.Continuing students - who received a scholarship last term.Step Up students - students who have lower than a 2.5 GPA.Please scroll down to the category that matches your applicant and answer those questions only.
For first time applicants or applicants who did not receive a scholarship last term:
In your essay, describe each of the following:
a) A brief personal and/or family history of your ties to Koniag, including how you or your family are connected to Kodiak Island.b) Describe your educational and career goalsc) Tell us about your community service efforts and/or volunteer activities over the years.
d) Share with us what makes you a good candidate for this scholarship and why KEF should invest in your education.
For students who received a scholarship during the past term:
In your essay, describe each of the following:
a) Include a brief personal and/or family history of your ties to Koniag, including how you or your family are connected to Kodiak Island.
e) Please update us on any relevant changes to your schooling or educational journey. What direction are you pursuing and what career(s) interest you?
f) Share something new from the past school year. For example, you might share some of your triumphs and accomplishments. Was there a course or assignment that helped you learn more about what you hope to do in the future or that made you realize you want to change directions? Tell us about a time when you had a belief or idea challenged. How are you unique? How might the work you hope to do one day support our Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people and communities? Please don’t answer all of these. Just pick one and elaborate so that our committee can continue in getting to know you.
For Step-Up students or probationary students (currently have lower than a 2.5 cumulative GPA):
If you are a new student to KEF but are applying with a GPA lower than 2.5, you will complete questions a) through d) above and describe the steps you will take to improve yourself as a student and your GPA.
If you are a returning student to KEF but are applying with a GPA lower than 2.5, you will complete questions a), e) and f) above and describe the steps you will take to improve yourself as a student and your GPA.
2024-25 KEF General Scholarship
Award: Varies depending on the annual budget; multiple recipients per year.
KEF offers merit-based scholarships to Alaska Native Koniag Shareholders and registered Descendants. These scholarships are competitive and are scored by an independent scholarship review committee. All eligible applicants will receive funds. Applicants with the highest rated. Applications, Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and GPA scores will receive the largest scholarship amounts. Please note that the KEF General Scholarship is considered a supplementary scholarship, students are encouraged to pursue as many other scholarships as possible as well as complete the FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid). Please look on our website to see other funding options.KEF is a private nonprofit and IRS regulations require that all scholarship funds must be disbursed directly to the university and cannot be applied to accounts in arrears (past due). Applications must be time-stamped by the posted deadline Alaska Standard Time; late applications will not be considered.
Basic Requirements:
Applicants must be Alaska Native Koniag Shareholders or registered Descendants (may be adopted) of the Koniag Region. Applicants are required to have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and make satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution. However, if a student does not meet this requirement, KEF does have a Step-Up program for students with less than a 2.5 GPA to receive a short-term scholarship for up to one school year as they work to improve their GPA and meet the 2.5 requirements.Applicants who are not currently enrolled as a Koniag Shareholder or a registered Descendant must apply with Koniag Shareholder Relations first to be eligible for future scholarships at https://www.koniag.com/our-shareholders/records-forms/.Members of the Koniag Education Foundation Board of Directors and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply for KEF scholarships or grants.Applicants must be accepted or attending an accredited college for a minimum of 6 credits/units (2 classes) per term.Applicants must have attained a high school diploma or GED by May 31 of the application year.Applicants must meet all other KEF eligibility requirements and be in good standing with KEF.What Information Will I Need to Complete the Application?
Your Koniag Shareholder or Descendant ID number. A recent Resume that describes the applicant’s employment history, school activities, volunteer/community service, awards/honors, and any additional education/training. (2-page maximum)Most recent high school, GED, or college transcript(s). If you have attended two or more colleges, provide the average cumulative GPA.Letter of Recommendation:New applicants are required to provide one letter of recommendation (LOR), which must be signed and dated less than one year from the close of the scholarship date. The letter(s) can be from an employer, teacher, coach, etc., but not a family member. The recommender should indicate how long they have known the applicant, how they know them, and speak directly to the student's ability to complete their degree program successfully. Continuing students (those who received a KEF General in the previous academic year) are not required to resubmit an LOR.The Essay is the most important piece of your application. Please answer the questions and stay on topic, you will be scored on each answer.Ensure spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct. Hint: Read the essay back to yourself out loud! The essay should be 500 words minimum two pages maximum.
Below are the essay requirements for all applicants but there are there are three types of applicants:
New students or students returning after some time.Continuing students - who received a scholarship last term.Step Up students - students who have lower than a 2.5 GPA.Please scroll down to the category that matches your applicant and answer those questions only.
For first time applicants or applicants who did not receive a scholarship last term:
In your essay, describe each of the following:
a) A brief personal and/or family history of your ties to Koniag, including how you or your family are connected to Kodiak Island.b) Describe your educational and career goalsc) Tell us about your community service efforts and/or volunteer activities over the years.
d) Share with us what makes you a good candidate for this scholarship and why KEF should invest in your education.
For students who received a scholarship during the past term:
In your essay, describe each of the following:
a) Include a brief personal and/or family history of your ties to Koniag, including how you or your family are connected to Kodiak Island.
e) Please update us on any relevant changes to your schooling or educational journey. What direction are you pursuing and what career(s) interest you?
f) Share something new from the past school year. For example, you might share some of your triumphs and accomplishments. Was there a course or assignment that helped you learn more about what you hope to do in the future or that made you realize you want to change directions? Tell us about a time when you had a belief or idea challenged. How are you unique? How might the work you hope to do one day support our Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people and communities? Please don’t answer all of these. Just pick one and elaborate so that our committee can continue in getting to know you.
For Step-Up students or probationary students (currently have lower than a 2.5 cumulative GPA):
If you are a new student to KEF but are applying with a GPA lower than 2.5, you will complete questions a) through d) above and describe the steps you will take to improve yourself as a student and your GPA.
If you are a returning student to KEF but are applying with a GPA lower than 2.5, you will complete questions a), e) and f) above and describe the steps you will take to improve yourself as a student and your GPA.