Aveogan Leadership Award 2026

Welcome to the Arctic Education Foundation (AEF) Aveoġan Leadership Award 2026 application session.

The Aveoġan Leadership Award was created to acknowledge the leadership of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation's former member who also held an executive position with ASRC since 1972, Dr. Oliver Aveoġan Leavitt. A whaling captain, a fierce champion for the rights of the North Slope Inupiat, a devoted public servant, and an avid Barrow Whalers Fan, Dr. Leavitt was a massively influential force in the growth of ASRC and a perpetual advocate for the rights of the people of the North Slope. The maximum amount for this award is up to $28,000 per school year (fall, spring, spring quarter, and summer terms) and is based on the college's financial need sheet. The scholarship will be awarded for four (4) consecutive school years for full or part-time status or enrollment. The scholarship will be awarded beginning the fall term following the deadline. One scholarship is awarded each year.

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: 

• Write an essay describing your leadership experience. Topics are not limited to, but may include: Your understanding of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), Elders/Youth representation, Alaska Federation of Natives representation, whaling crew member responsibilities, subsistence activities, community involvement, and any extra-curricular activities, etc. 

• Describe your goals of attending college/training. 

• Discuss your plans after completion of college/training. 

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. You must have a high school diploma (or GED)   

3. You must be at least 17 years old or 16 and be legally emancipated   

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

5. 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)   

6. Must maintain a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) throughout the cycle of the award, and must currently have a 2.0 GPA, if already admitted to a college, university, or training institution.   

7. Must have been involved in school and community extra-curricular activities.
8. Must have demonstrated leadership qualities throughout high school and/or college/training.

* “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.