STONY BROOK, N.Y., December 18, 2006 — Stony Brook University announced today that it was establishing annual Native American People Scholarships to be awarded to members of Indian Nations beginning in 2007. The four-year scholarships will be presented to graduating high school seniors or transfer students who meet Stony Brook’s admission requirements and will include tuition, room and board, fees, supplies and health insurance.
In a major expansion this Fall, the University opened Stony Brook Southampton on the 81-acre site of the former Southampton College, where it is developing academic programs focused on the environment and its sustainability.
“The Native American people have an extraordinary legacy in the East End communities,” Stony Brook President Shirley Strum Kenny said. “They have enriched our history, our culture, and our knowledge of the region. These scholarships demonstrate our commitment to work cooperatively with our neighbors in Southampton and the surrounding areas, and to be an important resource for them.”
“This scholarship and the commitment from the university will help to fulfill
one of the most pressing concerns in our community, the ability to ascertain a quality Education for our people.,” said Lance Gumbs, Tribal Chairman of the Shinnecock Nation.
“This scholarship is a tremendous first step in fulfilling a two hundred an fifty year old promise to provide advanced educational opportunity for Long Islands Native peoples,” said Harry Wallace, Chief of the Unkachaug Nation. “I welcome the opportunity to make this scholarship a permanent fixture in the academic life of Stony Brook University and the Unkechaug Nation.”
The scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors or transfer students who are U.S. citizens and certified members of underrepresented Native American populations; transfer students must have completed at least 24 credits or one year of independent education at an accredited institution, or have completed am Associates degree with a cumulative 2.5 GPA. Those receiving the scholarships can pursue any field of study available at Stony Brook or Stony Brook Southampton.
Stony Brook currently has 24 undergraduate students and 15 graduate students who identify themselves as Native American.
