Doyon honors scholarship recipients with an education celebration
Originally published Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 12:10 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 6:50 p.m.
From high school diplomas to doctorates, 71 Doyon Foundation scholarship recipients completed a milestone in their education in 2008.
The foundation has been providing scholarships since its inception in 1989. More than $4 million in scholarships have been awarded to more than 2,000 students.
“The mission of the foundation has been to improve the lives of Native Alaskans, and one of the ways to do that is through education,” Sharon McConnell Gillis, executive director of the foundation, said.
One of this year’s graduates, Greg Bringhurst, was the keynote speaker at Doyon’s annual graduation reception Friday. Bringhurst graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in May with a bachelor’s degree in management and organization. McConnell Gillis called Bringhurst a role model to younger students, especially Native males who have a higher drop-out rate than Native females.
“He’s a male role model who does a lot, is very organized and well-spoken,” she said.
Although he isn’t sure what lies in his future, Bringhurst is giving back to the Doyon Foundation. He has been using his business education and helping plan the Morris Thompson Memorial Golf Classic, a major fundraiser for the foundation.
“The scholarship has opened up many more doors for me,” Bringhurst said.
As a student, he held a job and said the scholarship money allowed him to take time off of from work, which meant more time dedicated to studying.
Doyon, Limited members, and their children are eligible for the scholarships.
McConnell Gillis reported at the reception that while accepting applications, the goal was to increase competitive scholarship applications by 10 percent. When the final numbers came in, they realized they had actually increased 43 percent.
The foundation also is starting to provide other support for students.
This was the first year for the alumni association, a group of former scholarship recipients who guide new students.
During the school year, members have invited students who are away from home into members’ homes for meals or for the holidays.
McConnell Gillis said a main goal for the group is preventing drop outs, especially for students who come from rural areas and might become overwhelmed.
Another goal for the foundation is increasing the scholarship amount every year.
“We’re very excited,” McConnell Gillis said. “They’ve worked so hard and just want to congratulate them.”
Community Discussion
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Wow that's nice great going scholarship. Now if the shareholders would get more yearly dividend that's equal to a week at minimum wage. Then they should get a page here.
WHO CARES!!! Until we can have a white only scholarship(like DOYON'S shareholder only scholarship) it's only fluff. A white only scholarship can never happen because thats "discrimination". Why is a "Shareholder" only scholarship perfectly legal???
JayT -
You clearly don't know how hard it is to be Native....
It's...well...hard
Yeah, How does that work if your a member of a tribe, and you get free monies? I think everyone should be treated equal. And stop all this free money for only one ethnic group. Maybe the whites should have their own membership group(call it tribal government) and get free money too. Make it federal law! lol The blacks should have their own government too, and get everything for free. I just think we should be all treated the same, no ethnic group should have special "funds" We are all under one nation, and One God.
The war with the white people was over more then two hundred years ago, Don't we think they payed us enough for what they did? Time to we stop the free money.
It ruins the people. I think it's time to dissolve the tribal governments, we had our chance to make of it. Even out the country, so we will gain more respect for one another. hope no one sue me now, lol
That's another thing ruining the country, SUE YOU.. lol
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