Past Recipients

2009-2010 Scholarship Recipient
Christine Meyers, Choctaw
Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado
Degree: Agricultural Enterprise 

Bio coming soon!

2008-2009 Scholarship Recipient
Joyce Cochran, Assiniboine
Fort Belknap College, Harlem, Montana
Degree: Computer Information Systems and Business Technology

 

Bio coming soon!

2008-2009 Scholarship Recipient
Eugene Big Back Jr.,
Cheyenne Chief Dull Knife College, Lame Deer, Montana
Degree: Business

Eugene Big Back, Jr., lives in Busby, Montana, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, where he is a registered tribal member. He is the Vice-President of Marketing for the newly revived Chief Dull Knife College chapter of AIBL. Although Eugene is 49, he describes his educational career as “still young,” and he plans to continue his education to earn a B.S. in business. His personal goal is to start a restaurant or pizzaria on the reservation to help provide employment to tribal members so that they may live and retire near their homes, as he plans to do. “Unemployment on the reservation is so high that any kind of jobs will help,” he asserts. Already, Eugene has invested 6,000 hours in earning a Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training Certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor for the occupation of cooking. In addition to being a conscientious student, a description that many of the teachers and advisors at Chief Dull Knife College bestow on him, Eugene is an active member of the Northern Cheyenne community. In October, he received a Certificate of Appreciation for assisting with a state-wide ceremony held to honor the naming of the Rosebud and Wolf Mountain battlefields as National Historic Landmarks. His academic advisor also enjoys sharing the story of the time when Eugene and his brother stopped to aid her when her car ran out of gas along the roadside; the two men funneled gas from their own vehicle into hers so that she could make it home.
 
2008-2009 Scholarship Recipient
Maurissa Bigjohn, Chippewa/Menominee
College of Menominee Nation, Keshena, Wisconsin
Degree: Business Administration and Accounting

My name is Maurissa L. Bigjohn and I am 30 years old. I live on the Menominee Indian Reservation. My parents are Linda L. Peters and Kurtis Peters, and Larry Bigjohn who resides in Chicago, Illinois. I have three sisters and one brother. I am an enrolled member of the Lac du Flambeau Lake Superior Band of Chippewas and a direct descendant of the Menominee Nation. I am pursuing a double major degree in Business Administration and Accounting. I plan on transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Finance. I will utilize my degrees by working in the Gaming Industry, because I feel this would be a chance to better our future and economy as Native people. Thank you to all for the opportunity and encouragement in obtaining my degree.

2007-2008 Scholarship Recipient

Alicia Ladd, Blackfeet
Blackfeet Community College, Browning, Montana
Degree: Business Management

Alicia Ladd is an 18 year old, freshman, working toward her Business Management degree at the Blackfeet Community College. She grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation with two brothers and one sister. She is now raising her two year old son by the name of Delbert Blackman. Alicia has been an active and successful AIBL member for six years. Throughout, her high school education, Alicia’s AIBL Chapter was honored, in four consecutive years, with a Chapter of the Year award through the AIBL Chapter competitions at the AIBL’s Annual Leadership Conferences. Alicia hopes to continue this winning streak throughout her college career by contributing her academic excellence, leadership abilities, and passion for community service to the Blackfeet Community College AIBL Chapter.

2006-2007 Scholarship Recipient
Ashley La Friniere, Turtle Mountain Chippewa
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Duluth, Minnesota
Degree: Business

Ashley is enrolled with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. She was born in Mahnomen, MN on the White Earth Reservation where she lived for many years. Currently, she lives in Duluth, Minnesota where she is attending the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC). Ashley will graduate during the Spring semester of 2008 with a Bachelors of Arts in Business. She stated that, “After my first year at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, I knew that I needed to study American Indian Law. I have set forth an educational plan to first finish my Bachelor’s degree here at FDLTCC while applying to the University of North Dakota School of Law.” She plans to specialize in federal gaming law. Currently, Ashley serves as the Fundraising Officer for the FDLTCC AIBL Chapter. She feels fortunate to have the ability to attend college and views position as the Fundraising Officer as an opportunity to give back to her community. She said that, “Finishing college and being able to take a stand for my people is the single most important thing next to my family and community that I could ever accomplish in my lifetime.” When not pursuing her academic endeavors or participating in AIBL activities, Ashley enjoys learning the Ojibwe language, beading, and spending time with her family. She is the oldest of seven children and has made it her personal mission to set a good example for them.

2006-2007 Scholarship Recipient

Kimberly Marceau, Blackfeet
The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
Degree: Business Administration

Kimberly is enrolled with the Blackfeet Indian Nation as a Blackfeet member. She was born in Browning, Montana where she earned an Associates of Arts in Business Management from the Blackfeet Community College (BCC) with a 3.077 cumulative GPA. She is currently a sophomore The University of Montana (U of M) working toward her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting. Kimberly will be the first member in her family to graduate with a four year undergraduate degree. She has gained work experience to compliment her academia by completing two internships. The first was fulfilled through Continuing Education where she worked with the Many Voices, One Message – Keep Tobacco Sacred and the Montana Tobacco Prevention Program and the second was a Missoula, MT based accounting firm called Rutherford, MacDonald,&Olson. Kimberly served as the Vice President of Marketing and the Secretary for the BCC AIBL Chapter for a year and a half. When Kimberly transferred from BCC to The U of M she was selected to be the Vice President of Finance of The U of M AIBL Chapter. She believes that her efforts and activities in AIBL give her the opportunity to serve as a role model within her community. She is a single mother of two; Michael age 11 and Kylee age 3. Kimberly stated that, “Upon getting my Bachelor’s degree I will feel I have completed a major accomplishment in my life along with being a mother. I want them [my children] to have a positive outlook on life and to know that they can have dreams and accomplish them.”

2005-2006 Scholarship Recipient

Gloria Eastman, Sicangu/Rosebud Sioux
Oglala Lakota College, Rapid City, South Dakota
Degree: Business Administration

Gloria is Sicangu Lakota enrolled with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She has lived in Rapid City, South Dakota for eleven years. She will be graduating in Spring 2006 with a bachelors of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. She is an outstanding student with a grade point average of 3.86. Currently, Gloria serves as president of the Oglala Lakota Collge-Rapid (OLC) AIBL chapter. She has been actively involved with this chapter for three years. She plans to stay involved with the Oglala Lakota College system to help other students earn their education. Gloria is specifically interested in casino management; she plans to work at the new tribal casino which is being constructed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Gloria enjoys attending wacipis (pow-wows) and other cultural activities. Gloria stated the following: “I am excited that I am near my goal of graduating; this is something that I have felt very strongly about for a long time. If I can graduate, then you can too and never give up. Aho, hecetu lila wopila (thank you everyone).”

2005-2006 Scholarship Recipient

Kristin Campbell, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
Sisseton Wahpeton College AIBL Chapter, Sisseton, South Dakota
Degree: Business Administration

Kristen is enrolled with the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation. Her family consists of her fiancé and two beautiful children Ariana 2 and Aiden 10 months. She is a business administration major at Sisseton Wahpeton College with a grade point average of 2.77. She lives in Watertown, South Dakota, which is 50 miles one way from Sisseton. She commutes daily to earn her education. Kristen plans to open a roofing business. She has been actively involved with the newly established AIBL Chapter serving as the secretary. She is concentrating on completing her business degree and has aspirations to earn a master’s in business administration. Kristen stated the following: “My motto for myself is if the roofing business doesn’t happen I can always fall back on my business degrees. You must always have a back up plan.”