Four Directions Scholarship Fund for Native Students

The Four Directions Scholarship Fund for Native Students supports higher education for Native people. Applicants must have graduated from high school or received a GED and be enrolled members of one of the following: the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa or the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Scholarship creator Penny Gill taught political science for 45 years at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She fell in love with Madeline Island (Mooningwanekaaning in Ojibwe) on her first visit and bought a small cabin, eventually becoming a year-round resident. She has benefitted from higher education and wishes to share that with her Ojibwe neighbors, the original residents and caretakers of her beloved island.

Eligibility

• Enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa,  the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Bois Forte Band Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe;
• Graduated from High School or received a GED
• Demonstrate financial need

Scholarship Grant Range

• $2,500 for up to 4 years ($10,000 total)

Application timeline

• This scholarship is part of the Universal Application: December 1 – February 15
• ONE Universal Application: Create a profile in the scholarship portal. Fill out the first page of the universal application to filter through all of the scholarships you qualify for. 

Award Details

• This scholarship may be used for expenses of post-secondary education at any accredited college, university or technical/ vocational school

• Award Payments will be mailed directly to the school/ university 
  • Fall Payments are mailed July 15-30
  • Spring Payments are mailed December 15-30
• Transferring Schools: Please contact DSACF if you plan on transferring schools. Transferring schools does not automatically transfer your scholarship. If a transfer occurs after scholarship money has been disbursed it may take up to 90 days to reprocess the scholarship payment. 

Tax information

DSACF encourages scholarship recipients to seek tax advice regarding scholarships. According to the IRS: Scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grants are tax-free if you meet the following conditions:

• You’re a candidate for a degree at an educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it carries on its educational activities; and
• The amounts you receive are used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution.