AISES Offers Travel Scholarships for its 2015 National Conference to Students

AISES is pleased to announce that it will begin accepting applications for travel scholarships to this year’s National Conference being held in Phoenix, Arizona this November 19-22, 2015.  These scholarships will provide travel assistance to 5-15 students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.  Students must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited four year college/university or a full-time student at a two-year college enrolled in a program leading to an academic degree.

For more information about the National Conference, please go to: http://www.aises.org/conference

1.    Scheduled roundtrip air, AISES will purchase directly.

2.    Hotel accommodations, AISES will purchase directly, students will be assigned a roommate to keep costs down.

3.    Registration fee, AISES will also pay directly.

Meals not provided at the conference, parking fees, and transportation to the airport are the student’s responsibility.  Likewise, expenses that exceed the scholarship amount are the student’s responsibility.  AISES will only provide lodging for three (3) nights on November 19, 20, and 21, 2015.  Students’ travel days will be Thursday, November 19th and Sunday, November 22, 2015.

Students are expected to attend all events and to abide by the AISES Code of Conduct. 

Failure to attend all scheduled events and violating the AISES Code of Conduct may result in the forfeiture of all or a portion of the scholarship.

Eligibility   Eligible students must be pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.  Students must be enrolled as full-time students in their field of study during the fall 2015 semester.

Applicants MUST meet all of the following criteria: 

1.    Must have a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA).  Latest Official Transcripts (issued by your school registrar’s office) will be required.

2.    Must be a full-time (12 credit hours or more) student at a two- year or four-year college or university, enrolled in a program leading to an academic degree (not a certificate) in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field.

3.    Must be a member of an American Indian tribe or otherwise considered to be an American Indian by the tribe with which affiliation is claimed; or is Alaskan Native; or considered to be an Alaskan Native by an Alaskan Native group to which affiliation is claimed; or is a Native Hawaiian.  Official Documentation identifying the student must be provided.

4.    Must be a member of AISES to apply.  To obtain an AISES membership go to http://www.aises.org/membership/

Application Deadline:  The application deadline is September 18, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.

Notification:  Notification of scholarship awards will be made no later than September 26, 2015.  If you have not heard from AISES by then, please call or email (preferred).

Application Process:
AISES only accepts applications submitted online via our online scholarship platform, https://aises.starsscholarshipsonline.com/stars/default.aspx.

A general application form is completed by the student online. No paper applications are accepted. This general application requires the student to complete questions and submit documents that are relevant to all AISES scholarship programs and which will allow the scholarship platform to determine which scholarships the applicant is eligible for. The system then prompts the student to apply for those scholarships and requests any additional information or documentation required by a particular scholarship that is not already addressed within the general application.

Students will create an account in the system. They will create their own user name and password, which they may use any time to re-access the system. This access is key, as students are responsible for ensuring that their documents and other requirements are in the system and that the information is up-to-date, especially contact information. AISES Programs staff and the scholarship platform communicates primarily via email, thus email addresses should be current and email checked regularly, If an email address changes, it is the student’s responsibility to inform AISES Programs staff.   

Please be aware that AISES does not inform students if their application is incomplete or if letters of recommendation have not been received by the system, etc. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that requested and appropriate documentation has been uploaded into the system or received by it. Likewise, the student applicant must follow-up with references, registrar’s offices, etc., to ensure they are aware of deadlines and to allow sufficient time to get required documents in time. In order to keep the process fair and equitable, no exceptions are made for missed deadlines, as other applicants have worked hard to get their info in on time. 

Students will submit an essay regarding why they would like to attend the National conference.

Documents needed will include:  Letters of reference (2), Official college (or high school transcripts for newly enrolled freshmen), transcripts bearing a registrar’s signature or seal, official proof of tribal membership, Official Fall enrollment verification, a current resume.

Note:  Students with completed academic scholarship applications for 2015-16 already in the scholarship platform system will just need to update contact info and answer the brief essay question.

For more information about these travel scholarships, please contact Melanee Stevens at 720-552-6123 or email her at mstevens@aises.org.