Since 1989, the Aqqaluk Trust has proudly awarded over $16.4 million in scholarships.  We currently administer three scholarships: The Aqqaluk Trust, Teck Alaska, and Dr. Lathrop scholarships. Each scholarship has its own eligibility requirements, but a student is only required to submit one online application each term to be considered for all three scholarships.

Robert Aqqaluk Newlin, Sr. Memorial Trust Scholarship

The Robert Aqqaluk Newlin, Sr. Memorial Trust Scholarship honors the late Robert Aqqaluk Newlin, Sr, who recognized that to survive in a changing world, young people must not only have a strong cultural identity but must also be educated and well prepared for jobs and careers.

The Aqqaluk Trust Scholarship provides financial support for NANA shareholders, their descendants, and their dependents (stepchildren) to pursue post-secondary education. Our goal is to increase the number of graduates and promote leadership, professionalism, and the overall economic self-sufficiency of the Inupiat of Northwest Alaska.

See scholarship requirements below for new and returning applicants.

Teck Alaska Scholarship

Teck Alaska, Inc. annually contributes $100,000 to Aqqaluk Trust for scholarships with approximately $90,000 for college/university students and $10,000 for vocational technical students, depending on yearly need. Any remaining funds roll over to the next year.

Minimum Cumulative GPA Requirement

Degree seeking students must have a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA. Vocational/Technical students must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Approved Mining Related College and Training Fields

A list of approved undergraduate and graduate degrees and vocational technical training courses is included below. Any application to mining-related baccalaureate degrees in engineering/geology and vocational technical programs not on this list will be determined in consultation with the NANA/Teck Employment and Training Committee.

Associate Degrees

Business with Human Resources Emphasis – Environmental Science – Information Technology/Computer Science – Process Control

Baccalaureate Degrees

Engineering: Chemical – Civil – Electrical – Environmental – Geological – Geophysical – Geotechnical – Industrial – Mechanical – Metallurgical – Mining – Mineral Processing – Instrumentation/Automation/Controls

Other: Business: Administration/HR/Finance/Accounting/Organizational Development/Public Relations – Construction Management – Chemistry – Data Science – Environmental Science -Environmental Geology – Earth Science – Geological Sciences – Geology – Hydrogeological/Geochemical – Industrial Hygienist – Logistics – Mathematics – Mechatronic Rural Development – Social Sciences – Supply Chain Management

Master’s Degree

Physician Assistant (PA)

Vocational/Technical Programs

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) – Diesel/Heavy Equipment Technology – Electrician -Heavy Equipment Mechanic/ Industrial Mechanic – Heavy Equipment – Operator Millwright/Industrial Mine Maintenance/Millwright Maintenance – Mineral Processing Technology – Process Technology/Process Technician – Welding/Combination Welding

Award Selection

Teck Alaska Scholarship awards are determined by a three-person selection committee. Committee members are appointed by Trustees of the Aqqaluk Trust and include one Teck Alaska employee and two qualified community members.  The Teck Alaska Scholarship will not be able to fund every student who applies and is eligible. Awards are determined on a point system and scholarship amounts vary.

Dr. Lathrop Scholarship

Dr. Robert Lathrop was a Doctor of Dental Surgery who operated an Alaska Native Service dental clinic in Kotzebue from 1954 to 1964. In 2009, he contributed $40,000 to the Aqqaluk Trust to support students attending college or technical training in dentistry, anthropology, museum curation, and business administration. Harry Harvey serves as the executor of the scholarship fund and determines the scholarship recipients and amounts. Full-time award amounts start at $2,000 per Term.

How to Apply through the Award Spring Portal 

Aqqaluk Trust uses the cloud-based scholarship management software Award Spring which offers a single application for multiple scholarships based on the applicant’s answers to application questions. To access the application, click the link here: https://aqqaluktrust.awardspring.com or paste it into your browser’s address bar. The application link is also accessible through a link in the upper right corner of the main page of the Aqqaluk Trust website.

All applicants must apply through Aqqaluk Trust’s Award Spring scholarship portal to be considered for a scholarship. Applicants must complete all sections, upload all required documents and must press “submit” by the appropriate application deadline to complete the application process. Please contact the Education Department if you have any issues with the application submission.

Full-Time and Part-Time Status

Full-Time: $3,000 per Term

• For degree seeking students, 12 or more undergraduate credits and 9 or more graduate credits
• For vocational/technical students pursuing a certificate, 4 or more weeks of training

Part-Time: $1,500 per Term

• For degree seeking students, 11 or less undergraduate credits and less than 9 graduate credits
• For vocational/technical students pursuing a certificate, less than 4 weeks of training

New Applicants

New applicant requirements:

• Proof of Shareholder, Descendant or Dependent Status
  • NANA Shareholders must submit a NANA Card or a NANA Shareholder Verification Letter. If you do not have one, please contact the NANA Shareholder Records Department at 907-442-3301 for assistance.
  • Descendants of a NANA Shareholder must submit the shareholder’s NANA Card or Shareholder Verification Letter and birth certificate(s) to show direct lineage to the shareholder you descend from. For example, if your maternal grandmother is the shareholder, you must submit both your birth certificate and your mother’s birth certificate.
  • Dependents of a NANA Shareholder or stepchildren must submit a NANA Card or Shareholder Verification Letter of the shareholder, a marriage certificate of the parent and stepparent, and a signed affidavit form (available from the Education Department).
• High School or College Grade Transcript (whichever is most recent). The minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement may be waived for first-time applicants.
• Class Registration List for current term which shows the credits for each course or the length of vocational training
• Two Current Letters of Recommendation
• 300 Minimum Word Statement of Purpose: Describe your personal history, a summary of accomplishments, and your educational and career goals. Explain how you intend to use your education to enhance Inupiaq values and culture.
• Final High School Transcript or GED – Teck Alaska Scholarship requires applicants to show proof of high school graduation or GED
• Letter of Acceptance – Teck Alaska Scholarship requirement

Returning Applicants

Requirements for applicants who have applied for a scholarship with the Aqqaluk Trust within the last two-years:

• College Grade Transcript – For degree-seeking students, the transcript must include grades for the previous term and a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• Certificate of Completion of Last Funded Vocational Training – For vocational students, the certificate must show that the training funded by Aqqaluk Trust was completed.
• Class Registration List for current term which shows the credits for each course or the length of vocational training
• 300 Minimum Word State of Purpose – Explain how you are moving toward your educational goals. What changes in plans might you be encountering? What are the reasons for the changes in your plans? Do you have new information about your career and education goals? Report how the previous Aqqaluk Trust funds were spent.

Application Deadlines

Aqqaluk Trust and Dr. Lathrop Scholarships

College/University

• August 1
  • Fall Semester
  • Fall Quarter
• January 10
  • Spring Semester
  • Winter Quarter
• March 1
  • Spring Quarter
• June 1
  • Summer Semester
  • Summer Quarter

Vocational/Technical

• Applications must be completed and submitted one day before the first day of training

Teck Alaska Scholarships ONLY

College/University

• August 1, Academic Year Deadline
  • For both Fall & Spring Semesters
  • For Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters
  • Full-time students only
• June 1, Summer Semester or Quarter
  • Full-time and Part-time students

Vocational/Technical Training

• Applications must be completed and submitted one day before the first day of training

\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_button _id=”16″ ][cs_element_text _id=”17″ ][cs_element_text _id=”18″ ]AA Business with HR Emphasis
AA Environmental Science
AA Information Technology, Computer Science
AA Process Control
BA Business: Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Organizational Development, Public Relations
BA Construction Management
BA Environmental Science
BA Logistics
BA Mathematics
BA Mechatronic
BA Rural Development
BA Social Sciences
BA Supply Chain Management
BS Chemistry
BS Data Science
BS Earth Science
BS Engineering, Chemical Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Geological, Geophysical, Geotechnical, Industrial, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Instrumentation/Automation/Controls, Mining
BS Environmental Geology
BS Geological Sciences
BS Geology
BS Geology
BS Hydrogeological/Geochemical
BS Industrial Hygienist
MA PA Program
Voc Commercial Driver’s License
Voc Diesel/Heavy Equipment Technology
Voc Heavy Equipment Operator
Voc Millwright/Industrial Mine Maintenance/Millwright Maintenance
Voc Mineral Processing Technology
Voc Process Technology/Process Technician
Voc Welding/Combination Welding