Success Stories

American Indian Education Fund Program’s success stories allow us to show our donors how the services they support help real students in real communities on reservations throughout the United States.

We hope that by sharing stories of these dedicated Native Americans, along with pictures of them and their communities, we will open a window into the lives of students on the reservations. We want to show all those who care about Indian people that together we are achieving our mission: "To give Native American students the tools, resources, and opportunities to learn and succeed. By harnessing the power of knowledge, these future leaders can work to bring about positive changes in their own lives and their communities."

Here are only a few success stories from over the years ...

Scholarship recipient Jalynn of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe was happy to get a fall welcome package from AIEF to help set the tone for a wonderful year! Jalynn attends school online at Sinte Gleska University, works part-time and cares for her newborn. Read More

10-year-old Mahto of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe loves traveling to different worlds every night by reading a good book. Previously, Mahto’s reading abilities were delayed, but he has markedly improved with support from his teachers and the AIEF Literacy service. Read More

Dannette was awarded an AIEF scholarship for the 2021-2022 school year, and she graduated this spring with her bachelor’s in social work with honors. She plans to help her tribe by changing the way mental health is treated on the reservation, starting with her own clinic.Read More

In 2021, the average cost of school supplies was up to $800 per student. Even if the shopping list is shorter, the cost can be unmanageable for many families on the reservations, where stores are sparse and supplies on shelves limited. Read More

An AIEF scholarship allowed Bailey’s dream is to be a USDA meat inspector, ensuring that tribes produce quality food that meets industry standards.

Bailey Chalfant of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe is a study in motivation and empowerment. This 23-year-old graduate student’s number one priority? The health of her tribe. Read More

An AIEF scholarship allowed Doug to attend Sinte Gleska University in his hometown for the 2020-2021 school year. Although freshman year is the toughest, Doug completed it with a 3.75 GPA and was selected again for an AIEF scholarship for 2021-2022. Read More

Caitlynn is honoring her late grandmother (shimá sání) by pursuing her Masters of Arts in Indigenous Leadership, Self-Determination, and Sustainable Community Building in the middle of a pandemic. Read More

Alyssa London on stage as Miss Alaska USA 2017

It's been almost 10 years (October 18th, 2010) since we first met Alyssa during her junior year at Stanford. We reconnected and asked Alyssa to catch us up. She provided PWNA's AIEF a beautiful and empowering glimpse of her world. Read More

Owen, a Native American rancher and rodeoer, who also is talented at the written word

Owen's dream is to return to the Blackfeet Nation and contribute to his tribe's food sovereignty and local economy by becoming a fourth-generation rancher. He is not only a skilled roper (competing on his college rodeo team) but is also a talented writer. Read More