I:We-Mta: Working Together

by Diona Williams, Early Childhood Education Professor, TOCC

2023-2024 Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education Grant Program

The Tohono O’odham Community College Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program’s Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education grant, titled I:We-Mta: Working Together, had three goals: to increase student satisfaction and sense of belonging through site visits, to increase program offerings to sister tribes and throughout the state of Arizona, and to improve the program’s cultural and academic alignments. The Tohono O’odham ECE Program grew significantly over the last four years, particularly thanks to the free tuition the college offers for all Native students with tribal identification. This growth is a testament to our commitment to providing quality education to our community.

Sense of Belonging

Last year students expressed the desire to connect in person, which led to the birth of ECE Gatherings. These gatherings, which started with students in our ECE 228 Family, Culture, and Community course, have continued to evolve, with more students getting involved in the planning process and clarifying the purpose of the gatherings.

Phoenix Campus

Throughout the academic year, the advisory team made regular visits to TOCC’s Phoenix Campus to provide monthly advising for students onsite and via Zoom. These advising sessions, which included group sessions with ECE and elementary education faculty, significantly increased student satisfaction and support. Students expressed that they feel supported by the advisors and faculty, which reassures us of the positive impact of the Phoenix Campus on our students.

Tohono O’odham Community College Phoenix Center.

ECE Gatherings

ECE faculty member, Diona Williams, hosted four ECE Gatherings this past year, two online and two in-person, at the Tohono O’odham Community College and Phoenix locations. The online sessions were provided during the fall and spring semesters to allow students to connect outside of class. In the sessions, students heard the American Indian College Fund’s Program Administrator, Cassandra Harden, speak about her journey as an early childhood education student at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) and her career at the College Fund. An interactive education program called Padlet is used during ECE Gatherings to provide insight for the ECE program by asking students survey questions and identifying their location.

The ECE Gatherings have provided a valuable forum for students to connect and share their experiences and have also contributed to their academic and cultural growth. Students discussed traditions from their tribes, shared ECE stories, and developed professional relationships with other students. Their success has spurred the ECE and Elementary Education faculty to start an education club, further enhancing the students’ involvement in their education program.

1,998 Native students awarded funding to pursue a higher education

August 29, 2024, Denver, Colo.— The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) awarded its largest Full Circle scholarship cohort ever, with nearly 2,000 Native students receiving awards. The Full Circle Scholarship Program is open to any Native American U.S. citizen who is an enrolled member or descendant of an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized tribe. Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average, and plan to enroll as a full-time student at a nonprofit, accredited college or university.

The fall cohort of Full Circle scholars is a diverse group. Students are affiliated with 249 tribal nations from across Indian Country. They are pursuing more than 450 majors at every level from associate to doctorate degrees. This year’s Full Circle scholars are using their scholarship awards to attend 34 tribal colleges and universities and 345 mainstream institutions. The median award amount per scholar is $3,900. The College Fund is preparing thousands more scholarships for tribal colleges and universities to disburse to their awardees this fall.

The College Fund accepts online scholarship applications on a rolling basis each year beginning on February 1. Students are encouraged to apply by May 31 to receive priority consideration. To learn more, visit https://collegefund.org/scholarships.

(From Left to Right) Sky H. (Navajo Nation), Tori M. (Yurok Tribe), and Amanda C. (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe).

About the American Indian College Fund— The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 34 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $17.4 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2022-23. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $319 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators and is one of the nation’s top 100 charities named to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.

Journalists—The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.