Whether you’re seeking higher education, or you’re looking to advance your career through non-degree seeking courses, licensing, or certification programs, Natives of Kodiak, Inc. has a variety of Scholarships available for NOK Shareholders and Descendants*. NOK has awarded over $1 Million in scholarships for studies in a broad range of academic and career fields.
*Direct lineal descendants of shareholders, including legal adoptees.
Higher Education Memorial Scholarships
Cecil Sholl, Sr & Jr Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship can be used for college, university, and vocational schools, and is valued at $6,000 per year for up to four years. One available annually. Learn more about Cecil Sholl, Sr. and Cecil Sholl, Jr.
Nancy Anderson & Emil Norton Sr Memorial Scholarships
NOK has ten scholarships available annually valued at $4,500 per applicant. Learn more about Nancy Anderson and Emil Norton Sr.
Walter Sargent, Jr Scholarship
New! NOK has added one scholarship available annually valued at $2,500 per applicant. Learn more about Walter Sargent, Jr.
Anderson, Beukers & Chichenoff Scholarships
NOK has nine scholarships available annually valued at $2,000 per applicant.
Please note: Shareholders and lineal Descendants only need to submit one Higher Education Memorial Scholarship application by April 15th to be considered by the NOK Scholarship Committee for any of the available amounts.
Career Development Scholarships
Neil Sargent Scholarship
The Neil Sargent Career Development Scholarship is designed to assist NOK Shareholders and Descendants seeking to enhance employment options or advance in their careers through non-degree seeking courses, licensing, or certification programs. Applicants may receive up to $2,500 annually. There is no deadline to apply; applications are accepted year-round or until finding in any one calendar year is exhausted. Learn more about Neil Sargent.
NOK Youth Scholarship Program
NOK Youth Scholarship Program
The NOK Youth Scholarship Program is designed to encourage participation in sports, camps, and cultural activities by NOK youth. NOK Shareholders and lineal Descendants, including legal adoptees, that are in school, kindergarten through 12th grade, are eligible to apply. $250 per student, per year may be used for athletic, scholastic, cultural and leadership trainings, camps and events, culture camps, sports camps, leadership events and music, or other trainings. Applications are open until finding is depleted in any calendar year. If you know a youth who may be interested, please encourage them to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible? NOK shareholders, direct descendants, including legally adopted descendants, of living NOK shareholders.
- What does a direct descendant mean? You are direct descendant of your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. You are not a direct descendant of your aunts, uncles, cousins, or siblings or other family members.
- How do I prove my ancestry if I think I may be a shareholder or the descendant of one? You can contact the Natives of Kodiak, Inc., office and receive assistance in this matter before applying for a scholarship.
- What do the different names on the scholarships (Cecil Sholl, Cecil Sholl, Jr., Nancy Anderson, and Emil Norton) mean? Do I apply for them differently? Our scholarships were named after significant people in our Alutiiq community. You can find their biographies on our website. You apply for all of them with the same application and the scholarship committee determines who gets which ones.
- If I want to go to a trade school, which scholarship do I apply for? If your trade school is a full year or multi-year program, apply through the Cecil Sholl Memorial Scholarship program. If you wish to go to a short-term training program (weeks or several months) apply through the Neil Sargent Career Development program. Applications are accepted all year for the Neil Sargent Career Development program, until funding (in a calendar year) runs out.
- How often can I apply for the Neil Sargent Career Development Scholarship? Once a calendar year, January 1 – December 31.
- How do I apply for an NOK scholarship? You can submit a paper application through the mail or hand deliver it to the NOK, Inc., office in Kodiak (215 Mission Road Ste 201, Kodiak, Alaska 99615). You can also fill out your application online through our website and email it to shareholders@nativesofkodiak.com, or you may fax your application to (907) 486-2745.
- When does the application open and close? The applications are available on February 15 and close on April 15, regardless of the day of the week.
- Can I submit my application late? We do not accept late applications. They must be postmarked by April 15 or received in the office by April 15 (unless April 15 if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the deadline is the first business day following April 15).
- Can I supply a non-official copy of my birth certificate? You may send a photocopy of your original (or state issued) birth certificate. The submitted birth certificate must include the names of your parents.
- Can a person other than myself write my personal essay? No.
- Can I use an NOK scholarship for online courses? Yes, if your course is offered through an accredited college or university.
- When and how will students be notified if they’ve received a scholarship? Scholarship applicants will receive a letter, at the address listed on their application, by May 31.
- What happens to my application after the process is over? How is my personal
- information handled? The applications of those who did not receive scholarships are shredded after the selection process. Scholarship recipients’ information is kept in a paper file for three years after their awards. Other than publishing the names of scholarship recipients, we never share applicants’ personal information with any other entity for any reason.
- How many times can I apply? Applicants can apply once a year for an unlimited number of years.
- If my grades are not high, can I still apply? Absolutely. The scholarship committee evaluates applications on a variety of criteria, grades being only one of them.