A primary goal for the Advancing Agricultural Science Opportunities for Native Americans (AASONA) grant program is to increase the number and persistence of Native Americans in the farming and ranching professions. To better meet this goal, the AASONA Program provides research funding awards to AASONA Scholars so they may complete their research projects. These research awards will be provided in the amount of $5000 for the academic year. A student does NOT have to be an AASONA Scholar to apply for this award.

The AASONA Research awardees will be selected by our selected group of Native American farming and ranching professionals. The awardees will be scored based on their Research Project outline proposal and their research project’s potential to contribute to Native American communities particularly in the field of farming and ranching. To apply for this award, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be enrolled in an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution.
• Must be pursuing a bachelors or graduate degree (including PhD)
• Applicants must be an enrolled citizen or a descendant of an enrolled citizen of a federal or state recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Village; or Native Hawaiian or descendant from a Native Hawaiian; or Pacific Islander or descendant from Pacific Islander; or Indigenous person of Canada. Enrollment documents and/or a copy of birth certificate(s) showing descendancy from an enrolled citizen, Indigenous group of Canada, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander are acceptable. Applicant may also, instead, provide a copy of their Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood or Certificate of Degree of Alaska Native Blood (CDIB) card.
• Applicants must be current AISES members at the time of application. All applicants will be required to enter a valid AISES membership number. Please note that membership is now free for all college students. Sign up to become a member at www.aises.org/membership
• Must be conducting research in an agricultural related area

In addition, applicants must submit the following:

• The most recent transcript
• One letter of reference
• AASONA Research Award Application: https://www.aises.org/content/aasona-agricultural-research-awards

Please submit all documents (in PDF) by email to Dr. Johnny Poolaw at jpoolaw@aises.org

The deadline for application submission is October 30,2020. Once all awards have been given out, applications will no longer be accepted. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Johnny Poolaw at jpoolaw@aises.org or (720) 758-9725.