Why This Scholarship Exists

This scholarship is more than financial assistance. It is part of the legacy our Lakota ancestors left for us. Our ancestors endured great hardship to protect our land, our people, our sovereignty, and the future of generations they would never live to see. Through treaties, sacrifice, prayer, and perseverance, they carried hope that their descendants would have opportunities to learn, prosper, and strengthen the Oyáte.

We honor their sacrifices through Wóohola—respect, Wówačhiŋtȟaŋka—perseverance, and by remembering that the opportunities available to us today were preserved by those who came before us.

Receiving this scholarship carries a responsibility: use the opportunity well, honor those who made it possible, and help create opportunities for the generations yet to come.

We are the descendants our ancestors prayed for. What we do with their sacrifices becomes the legacy we leave for our own descendants.

Higher Education Information


The Higher Education Program provides scholarship grants to enrolled Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Members. To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a high school graduate or have obtained a GED. The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria stated in the Higher Education Guidelines. Students must submit a new application for each of the terms (Academic Year, Spring Semester, Summer Session). If the student is not awarded for the academic year and would like to be considered for the following spring term, please submit another application for the spring term only. The funding priorities are as follows: 1. SENIORS 2. JUNIORS 3. SOPHOMORES 1. FRESHMAN

Applications must be complete by the deadlines provided on this web site.

Associate of Applied Science Applicants enrolling in a vocational education or technical school must submit a letter from the school verifying: accreditation, transferability of credits to a 4-year institution.

Summer School Applicants Only Students need to submit a Letter of Justification stating why you need summer classes. The letter must be from an academic advisor or another staff person directly involved with the students progress.

STUDENTS IN DEFAULT ON A STUDENT LOAN ARE INELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM UNTIL THE STUDENT IS NO LONGER IN DEFAULT STATUS AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.

Available Scholarships and Grants

  • The Higher Education Scholarship Program (Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act). The primary purpose is to provide grants to individual tribal member students to meet, based on unmet need, educational expenses for attendance in a postsecondary education program

  • The Employment Assistance Grant Program (Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) scope includes providing vocational training, job counseling, career development, and assistance in securing employment for tribal members. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Education Services office to see if you qualify.

  • The TECA/CRST Scholarship Program scope of work is to provide scholarships to tribal member college students.

  • The TECA/CRST Education Hardship Grant. The objective of the project is to provide funds to students who are ineligible for any scholarship. Awards are made on a case-by­-case basis. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Education Services office to see if you qualify.

  • The TECA/College Bonus Incentive Program scope of work is to provide an achievement-based incentive for college graduates who find gainful employment on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Education Services office to see if you qualify.

  • The TECA/CRST Education Grant. All tribal members pursuing a postsecondary degree at any postsecondary institution are eligible to apply for the CRST Education Grant, which is payable to the student. The application is accessible via the website.

  • The Rocky LeCompte Memorial Scholarship scope provides scholarships to students who are unable to qualify for any other scholarship due to extreme circumstances, on a case-by-case basis. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Education Services office to see if you qualify.

  • The Wakicu Scholarship Fund Scholarships are granted to college-bound students on the basis of their financial circumstances. Awards are made on a case-by-case basis. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Education Services office to see if you qualify.

Required Documents

  • CDIB - certifying that the applicant is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Our scholarships are only available to Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Members. For assistance with your CBID, call 605-964-6612.

  • Letter of Acceptance from an eligible institution - New students, transfers and previously suspended students only. The student must be enrolled full-time in a specialized technical, associate, bachelor, graduate or doctorate degree program at any accredited institution.

  • HS Transcript or GED Scores - New applicants only. High school students must submit a transcript of any college course work. The student must have graduated from High School or earned their GED.

  • An UPDATED COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT from the previous term/year of attendance. NOTE: an OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT must be ordered (fee required) and sent directly to our office for those students who have received a scholarship in any previous term. HAND CARRIED TRANSCRIPTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

  • A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE/NEEDS ANALYSIS FORM prepared and certified by the college Financial Aid Officer indicating the student's unmet need based on his/her individual budget, resources and awards. The NEEDS ANALYSIS FORM can accessed by clicking on the Higher Ed tab and click NEEDS ANALYSIS FORM to print out and send to your Financial Aid Office. This form can only be returned to this office if a FAFSA has been completed and is on file with the college’s Financial Aid Office.

Additional Important Information

The Higher Education Scholarship is a Public Law 93-638 Contract and funds are appropriated annually by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Scholarship is funded annually through appropriations by the Public Law. 106-511 Tribal Equitable Compensation Act (TECA). More about TECA

Both are annual, non-renewable, and available to college students who are an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, full-time, (limited part-time funding is available), and attending any nationally, regionally and industry accredited post-secondary institution. Applicants must be accepted for admission to a nationally accredited institution of higher education which provides a course of study conferring the Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts or science degree, a vocational certificate or diploma, Masters, Doctoral, professional degree or certificate. All applicants must demonstrate financial need as determined by the financial aid officer of the collegiate institution.

  1. The Cheyenne River Education Scholarships Program is for the specific purpose of financially assisting eligible Cheyenne River Indian students according to the following regulations and guidelines.
  2. Scholarships and grants are not a right. The funds for this program are appropriated by Congress to aid qualified Indian Students who are in need of financial assistance after all other sources of funds are considered.
  3. The purpose of these guidelines is to set forth procedures and requirements to govern the awarding of Higher Education Scholarships as administered by the Tribal Education Department under contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
  1. To be eligible for a grant, an application must be:
    1. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
    2. Enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts or Science Program, Associate of Arts or Science Program, or Graduate Program. Students in an Associate of Applied Science Program will be eligible to apply, but the student must prove (1) school accreditation and (2) the transferability of the credits earned at the vocational school.
    3. Eligible students who demonstrate a need as determined by the College or University Financial Aid Officer after the following sources are considered.
      1. Other grants and scholarships from college, private, and foundation scholarships, and/or private and federal sources.
      2. Personal and/or family contributions.
      3. If a loan is indicated as part of the student's financial aid package, the Higher Education Scholarship Officer shall not change, reduce, or remove the loan, and it will be considered when making the final award.
      4. Students who are ineligible for federal financial aid as a result of a default on a student loan shall be deemed ineligible for a Higher Education Scholarship.
  1. The responsibility of determining an applicant's eligibility shall be the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Education Services Office, in concurrence with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Education, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Education Committee shall be made aware of those students who will be receiving a Higher Education Grant.
  1. Undergraduate applicants will be funded on a first-come-first-serve basis upon completion of a financial aid application until funds are exhausted. A completed Higher Education application consists of the following:
    1. A fully completed Higher Education Grant Application form.
    2. A Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) certifying that the applicant is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (new applicants only).
    3. A letter of acceptance from an eligible institution (new applicants, transfers, and previously suspended students).
    4. A High School Transcript or General Education Development (GED) high school equivalency certificate (New Applicants).
    5. Grades, transcripts, or a progress report from the previous term/year of attendance. ( Continuing students)
    6. Associate of Applied Science applicants emolling in vocational education or technical programs must submit documentation from the school verifying: (1) Accreditation; and (2) Transferability of credits to another institution.
    7. A "Financial Aid Package" form prepared and certified by the College Financial Aid Officer indicating the student's unmet need based upon his/her individual budget, resources, and awards.
    8. Summer School Applicants must submit a Letter of Justification stating the need for summer school with the application. The letter of justification must be submitted by an academic advisor or another staff person directly involved with the student's progress.
  2. The Higher Education Grant application should be in the Education Services Office, accompanied by the requested supportive documentation on and as stated in Section IV, part (a), no later than:
    1. June 15th for students attending the 1st Semester or the full academic year.
    2. November 15th for those students attending the 2nd Semester or Winter/ Spring Quarters.
    3. April 15th for students attending summer school.
      1. A letter of justification for the need for summer school must accompany the application. The letter of justification must be submitted by an academic advisor or another staff person directly involved with the student's progress.
  3. Students must reapply each year for grant assistance.
  4. If funds become limited and the Tribe is unable to fund each applicant, the following priority regulations shall be in effect
    1. Reservation residents will be funded on a first-come-first-served basis, upon the requirements outlined in Section IV.
      1. Seniors/Juniors
      2. Sophomores/Freshman
    2. Off-reservation residents will be funded based upon the following:
      1. Seniors/Juniors
      2. Sophomores/Freshman
    3. Grant amounts issued to students attending out-of-state, sectarian, or private institutions shall be comparable to those made to students attending State, Tribal, or federally supported institutions.
  5. Summer school students may be funded if funds are available, based upon the following:
    1. Seniors who need summer school to graduate.
    2. Married students who would lose their housing if they were not to continue schooling during the summer months.
    3. Juniors
    4. Sophomores
    5. Freshman
    6. Graduate students
  6. Graduate students may be funded if funds are available and all other funding sources have been exhausted.
  1. The following requirement for academic progress will be used to determine the continuation of funding under the Higher Education Scholarship Program.
    1. All students - Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors must maintain and earn a minimum of 2.0 Grade Point Average, for a recommended 15 hours per semester/ quarter, earning no less than 12 credits hours as a minimum. Students attending colleges that are under the quarter system must maintain and earn a Grade Point Average (GP A) of 2.0 and earn a full load as described in the respective college catalog.
    2. Summer school students must complete the summer term with a minimum GP A of 2.0, completing the semester with the original number of credit hours of the original enrollment, or be suspended from the program. Reinstatement will be dependent upon the student meeting the requirements as outlined in Section VI (e).
    3. Part-time students will be funded for books, tuition, and fees, provided that the financial aid officer determines that the student is in need.
    4. Students, full-time or part-time, who plan to enroll in remedial or preparatory course work and will not receive credit should plan to take additional hours, which will ensure continued eligibility for the next semester.
    5. Students receiving a Higher Education Scholarship MUST EARN a minimum of 12 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA at the end of each semester.
  1. All students will be required to submit an OFFICIAL grade transcript after each term to the Tribal Education Services Office for review before checks are processed for the next term. THIS IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
  2. Freshmen who do not meet the minimum academic requirements for one term but have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 1.75 or better will be funded on academic probation during the next term. Freshmen who do not meet the 1.75 GPA or 12 credit hours in the first term will be automatically suspended from the program.
  3. A freshman on academic probation must meet the minimum requirements of a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) and earn 12 credit hours each semester. Failure to do so will result in immediate suspension from the program.
  4. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 and earn a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. Failure to do so will result in immediate suspension from the program.
  5. Once a student has been suspended from the scholarship program, the student will not be considered for future funding until the student, through other funding sources earn a minimum of 12 hours college credit with a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) in one term from the college which he/she is emolled.
  6. After a student reinstates his/her Tribal funding he/she will continue to be eligible for funding as long as he/she maintains the academic requirements stipulated by the program, providing funding remain available.
  7. After suspension from the program, a student will be allowed to be reinstated into the program. If a student fails to meet the requirements after reinstatement, the student will be permanently suspended from the program.
  1. Students who fail to meet the minimum academic requirements of the Higher Education Scholarship Program. Shall be placed on academic probation or suspension. In the event a student wishes to appeal his/her suspension, the following appeals process shall be in effect:
    1. Upon receipt of his/her notice of suspension, the student shall have 10 working days in which to notify the Education Services Office of his/her intent to appeal.
    2. The student shall be notified as to when his/her appeal will be heard by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's Education Committee. It is recommended that the student be present at the hearing, but it is not necessary.
  1. All students who have been funded on the grant program for eight (8) Semesters or twelve (12) quarters will have their college transcripts reviewed by the Education Services Office. The purpose of this review and evaluation is to ensure that the student is making a sincere effort towards the completion of his/her educational goals.
  1. Part-time students will be funded for books, tuition, and fees, provided that the financial aid officer determines that the student is in need.
  2. No student will be allowed to accumulate more than 15 credit hours of part-time expenses outlined in (a) above if they are receiving Higher Education funding.
  1. All students are required to apply for all available State, Federal, and Private financial aid before consideration of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's grant will be considered.
  2. Students are not required to accept a loan as financial aid. If, after the Higher Education Scholarship has been awarded, the student may accept a loan if an unmet need remains.
  1. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe shall notify all applicants in writing as to the approval or disapproval of their application.
  2. Notification to applicants approved for a grant shall specify the amount of the award.
  1. Payment shall be made to the institution for the student.
  2. The college should deduct the necessary fees and work with the student to develop the financial responsibility for the remaining funds.
  3. Under NO circumstances shall the institution advance payments to the student based upon the scholarship award without prior authorization from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
  1. The institution that a student elects to attend must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or by a state department of education, or by a state university, or an institution whose credits are accepted on a transfer by not fewer than three institutions which are accredited by a national accrediting agency or association on the same basis as if transferred from an accredited institution. Not excluding juniors or community colleges provided that they meet the requirements listed in this section.
  1. Reservation Residents:
    1. Qualify for Aberdeen Area Student Health Program. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Higher Education Scholarship Program will not pay for any medical or health benefits as these services are available through the Indian Health Services.
    2. Students must notify their home agency Indian Health Services facility within 72 hours if medical treatment is required while they are away at school.
  2. Off-Reservation Residents:
    1. Medical benefits will be available only to the extent of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Higher Education Scholarship Program paying for a health insurance policy recommended by the college or university and provided that this cost is included in the financial need analysis.
  1. In order to enhance their funding possibilities, all students are urged to complete and submit their financial aid packets to the Tribal Education Office by the Dates established in Section IV.
  2. Students are urged to submit their applications for federal financial aid as early as possible as this application process can be lengthy. The Higher Education Scholarship Program will be unable to award an applicant until a Needs Analysis is completed and submitted by the Financial Aid Officer based on information provided by the student in the federal financial aid application.
  3. All students are urged to have the college in which they are enrolled in, send the official grade transcripts as soon as possible after each term so as not to delay the next term's funding.
  4. All students are urged to communicate freely with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's Education Services Office in the event problems at their respective schools arise so that we may assist the students in their educational endeavors.
  1. Job Descriptions shall be established for this program and copies retained by the Higher Education Scholarship Program and the Tribal Personnel Office.

PRIVACY ACT AND PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT


The information you provide on this site is pursuant to Public Law 93-579 (Privacy Act of 1974), December 31, 1974. Although furnishing personal information to this office is voluntary, failure to supply complete and accurate information may preclude the applicant from eligibility for assistance under the scholarship programs available to us. The information is being collected to determine elibigility of individuals applying for services. This information will be used to produce statistical records required of the Office of Indian Education Programs. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit.
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