At-Large High School Scholarship 2026

Welcome to the Arctic Education Foundation (AEF) At-Large High School Scholarship 2026 application session.

Arctic Education Foundation (AEF) awards annual scholarships to graduating at-large high school seniors who are ASRC shareholders or descendants of original ASRC shareholders. These awards are to be used for college or training expenses, and are in addition to other funding available through AEF.

The At-Large High School Scholarship Award will be made only to qualified AEF applicants, who at the time of award: (a) have attended one (1) or more years of high school; (b) are seniors graduating from high school; and (c) plan to continue their education by enrolling in a qualified postsecondary educational institution or training facility. This is a one- time award.

Six (6) At-Large High School Scholarship Awards will be awarded each year in the amount of $2,000 each. Candidates must display superior academic performance, demonstrated leadership ability and/or community service achievements. Superior performance, ability and/or achievement requirements will be measured by objective criteria (e.g. grade point average, essay, leadership positions held or service projects performed, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Deadline

The annual deadline is June 30th. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

AEF is a private non-profit organization committed to providing financial assistance to eligible applicants pursing higher education. The goal of the foundation is to partially finance students who are furthering their education beyond high school or to become job ready. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements to receive funding and must supply all documents required.

Reminder: AEF has semester and quarterly financial limits. Funding is awarded based on demonstrated financial need for eligible expenses including tuition, fees, books, and in some cases, room and board. We encourage you to apply for other scholarships which you may be eligible for. We particularly encourage you to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) whether or not you feel you qualify for any of their grants (www.fafsa.ed.gov).

As part of this application, please be prepared to submit: 

1. Financial Need Sheet. This is a form that will be filled out by your financial aid office and submitted as part of your application. 

1. High School or the Latest College/or University Transcript 

1. Genealogy for Eligibility Determination (First Time Applicants Only) 

1. Two letters of recommendation on your behalf 

1. Copy of Acceptance Letter from College, University or Training Institution (First Time Applicants or Continuing Applicants attending a new school only) 

1. Personal Essay 

Essay guidelines: 

• Topics should include, but are not limited to: student programs; student government; student travel; learning opportunities; training; Elders/Youth representation; Alaska Federation of Natives representation; whaling crew member participation; subsistence activities; community involvement; and any extracurricular activities. 

• Tell us your personal, professional and family background. 

• Describe your goals of attending college/training and what leadership role you see yourself in upon completion. 

• Essays must be three-to-four pages, double spaced. 

Additional Information or Paperwork Required:

If you are a full-time student and attending school away from your hometown and or living off-campus and want to request assistance with room/board, you must submit an official lease agreement with your landlord as part of your application.

Arctic Education Foundation has several areas of eligibility all of which you must satisfy in order to be determined eligible for an AEF scholarship award.

Requirements

1. You must be a member of at least one of the eligible classes of recipients: 

• A Northern Alaska Inupiat Native of at least 1/4 blood quantum currently residing in the Arctic Slope Region  

• An original 1971 shareholder of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation  

• A direct lineal descendant of an original 1971 shareholder of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation 

2. Current high school seniors attending high school 

3. You must be at least 17 years old or 16 and be legally emancipated  
4. Anticipating completion of high school diploma at the time of application 

5. You must be a United States citizen and a United States resident   

6. You must be accepted as a Post-secondary education student for either: an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree through an accredited U.S. college or university; or for technical or vocational training through a qualified U.S. vocational or technical institution or program (including qualified training programs sponsored by industry standard manufacturing firms such as Novell or Microsoft)   

7. Carrying a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application   

8. Must have been involved in school and community extracurricular activities

9. Must have demonstrated leadership qualities throughout high school 

* “Northern Alaska Inupiat Native” is defined by AEF as an Inupiat Native who: was originally enrolled by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (“ASRC”) on December 17, 1971 the implementation date of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [“ANCSA”; 43 USC § 1601 et seq.]; or was subsequently enrolled by ASRC as a Class E “missed shareholder” who was eligible to enroll to ASRC on such date, but failed to timely enroll and did not enroll to another ANCSA Region; or is a direct lineal descendant (by blood or adoption, not marriage) of such an Inupiat Native.