Special Opportunities for Cherokee Studies Students

Welcome to Western! You’ll find a wide range of interdisciplinary courses available to you and your fellow students at undergraduate and graduate level. In addition to academic offerings, financial and social opportunities exist specifically for Native American students.

Native American Student Association

The purpose of the organization is to provide opportunities for Native American students, faculty, and others of similar interests to associate, to exchange ideas, and to promote, cooperatively, interest in the Native American culture and the academic pursuits of Native Americans. For more information, please contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at (828) 227-2276.

Scholarships and Grants for Native American and Minority Students

Photo: Newsmaker: Native-American author, poet and filmmaker Sherman Alexie lectured at Western in April 2003

Through the financial aid office, you can find more information on the following scholarships and grants dedicated to Native American and minority students:

Sequoyah Assistantships in Cherokee Studies

The Cherokee sStudies program has limited funding and work-study available for WCU Cherokee Studies students. For more information about these assistantships, please contact Jane Eastman at 828-227-3841 or mailto:mclachlan@email.wcu.edu.

Louise Mason Caldwell Scholarship Fund.
Established in 1987 through an estate gift from Louise Mason Caldwell, this fund provides merit-based scholarship assistance for deserving Cherokee Indians to attend Western Carolina University. Mrs. Caldwell’s husband, Mr. Ross Caldwell, who predeceased his wife, was the engineer and chief developer of the mountainside theater for the outdoor drama “Unto These Hills.”

The Helga Nielsen Scholarship Fund.
This fund was established through the generosity of Helga Nielsen to provide scholarship assistance for Cherokee Indian students.

The Lucy Ann Nordyke Fellowship Fund.
This scholarship was established by Martha Jean Rice in memory of her grandmother, Lucy Ann Nordyke, who was born in 1861 in the Cherokee Nation West. Scholarship support is provided for students pursuing a master's degree in history and performing research in Cherokee Indian Studies. First priority is given to Cherokee Indians and Cherokee descendants.

C.D. Spangler Jr. Scholarship for Minority Students.
This endowed scholarship program's purpose is to provide financial support for deserving young minority students. Awards are based upon high academic achievement, successful participation in various school activities, overall social and civic contributions, and financial need.

The American Indian Grant
The American Indian Grant is funding given to Western Carolina University from the UNC system to provide need-based grants to Native Americans who are legal residents of the state of North Carolina and who can provide documentation of tribal membership in a tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or the federal government. Students will be considered based on financial need, as demonstrated by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and a designation on the application for admissions as being a Native American.

For more information on these and other scholarships, please contact the financial aid office at (828) 227-7290 or Email finaid@wcu.edu.

Photo: Newsmaker: Navajo actor Roger Willie (“Windtalkers”) appeared at Western’s Cherokee Center in May 2003.

Internships

The Cherokee Studies Program at Western Carolina University would like to announce a number of internships that are available to students at WCU. Last year's interns worked at a variety of regional museums, such as the Mountain Heritage Center, the Junaluska Memorial and Museum, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Students are paid for these internships on an hourly basis, with internships ranging from a total of 150 to 300 hours. For more information on these and other internship possibilities, please contact Jane Eastman at either 828-227-3841 or mailto:mclachlan@email.wcu.edu

Additional internships may be available through the Lancy Project. Please contact Jane Eastman at 828-227-3841 or jeastman@email.wcu.edu for more information.