About Our Scholarships
the way the world works and to question
everything that comes before them.
About Our Scholarships
the way the world works and to question
everything that comes before them.
About Our Scholarships
the way the world works and to question
everything that comes before them.
Learn more about the Cobell community and read more about stories from fellow colleagues and recipients.
Learn more about all the scholarship options and requirements that we offer along in a user-friendly environment.
Utilize our collection of helpful online tools by watching videos carefully designed to guide you through the OASIS online portal.
Here's What We Offer
Frequently Asked Questions
COBELL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Cobell Scholarship FAQ information is categorized into four (5) areas with a PDF for each area available for printing: Eligibility, Applying, Selection, Summer Research Fellowship and The Elouise Cobell Dissertation Writing-Year Fellowship.
For all other questions that are not answered here, please email: scholarships@cobellscholar.org
The Cobell Online Application & Scholarship Information System (OASIS) also has an FAQ tab for applicant convenience.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL AID
Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) is a user-friendly website for students, families, and community members. Look for “How Financial Aid Works” to get informed and stay informed.
The College Board has several good tools to help select a college, explore careers, pay for college, get into college(s), and guidance to make a plan. Information about financial aid can be particularly useful; however, their entire site is recommended and can be accessed HERE.
Meet The Cobell Scholarship Administrator
Melvin Monette-Barajas
CEO
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Melvin is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (North Dakota), has attended both Turtle Mountain College and Cankdeska Cikana Community College (both TCUs), and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education from the University of North Dakota where he was also privileged to receive a Distinguished Native American Alumni commendation. Currently, Melvin is serving on the Board of Directors for AISES. He has served; College Educators International (ACPA) as a past-Chair of the Native American Network, NIEA as past-President and board member, and IEI as recent past-President of the board. Melvin enjoys day trips and long weekends with his husband, John, their children, and grandchildren. They are also active in the foster care system. As the Founding CEO of IEI, Melvin is proud of the growth of each program and truly enjoys hearing from Cobell Scholars and Fellows. Send him a note to Melvin.monette@cobellscholar.
John L. Garland
Director, Research & Scholar Success
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John’s research and advocacy for Indigenous college students and their inclusion within our national data fabric is situated at the intersection of his administrative and teaching experience in higher education, his academic training in college student counseling and development, and his leadership as Director of Research and Scholar Success for the Cobell Scholarship Program. A citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, John was raised where his Choctaw family relocated following his Tribe’s removal from their Southeastern ancestral homelands. From John’s unique platform, he challenges systemic invisibility and social constructions with reassuring leadership for sustainable progress and Indigenous student success through decision intelligence. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Science in Student Personnel Services degrees from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma – a Native American serving institution, and his doctorate in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland, College Park with an emphasis in College Student Personnel Administration.
Gary Pierce
Director of Operations
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Gary is from Huntsville, AL., and went to undergraduate school at the University of North Alabama and received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He attended graduate school at the University of New Mexico where he received his Master’s in Accounting. Gary manages the OASIS Portal powered by WizeHive. He’s been with Indigenous Education for 2 years. Gary’s hobbies include: Gaming, woodworking, backpacking, and climbing. Fun fact: Gary is an avid mountain climber.
Gabriel Bell
Director of Outreach
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Gabriel joined Indigenous Education, Inc. as Director of Outreach in 2022. He is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes based in Concho, Oklahoma. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at Oklahoma Baptist University as a Gates Millennium Scholar. Prior to this time, Gabriel spent 11 years at American Indian Graduate Center, a national scholarship organization serving American Indian and Alaska Native students across the country. His experience covers scholarship operations, academic advisement, campus engagement, data analysis and program management. Gabriel enjoys working with Native students throughout their educational journeys and looks forward to serving with the team at Indigenous Education, Inc. As Director of Outreach, Gabriel’s main priorities will be to oversee outreach activities, including social media, presentations and materials, communications to stakeholders, campus connections and oversight of review processes.
Julia Mosconi
Assistant Director of Research and Scholar Success
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Julia (She/Her) is European-American and was raised on the ancestral lands of the Lakota and Ojibwe peoples in Minneapolis, MN. She received her BS in Community Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Wisconsin Madison (Ho-Chunk land) and her MA in Education Policy from George Washington University (Pamunkey/Piscataway/Anacostan land). Julia has been with IEI since just after its inception in 2016 and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Research and Student Success in which she manages external partnerships, assists and leading the Fellowship Program, maintain social media platforms, analyzes and compiles data and reports, creates & manages student success and services, and assists with internal and external research projects. She currently resides in Washington, DC. During her free time she enjoys traveling, volleyball, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.
Joseph Marion
Scholarship Associate
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Aniin (Hello), I am Joseph Neesho-Migizi (Two-Eagle) Marion, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. I’ve been living in Santa Fe, NM for 5.5 years. I’m a hairdresser, artist in silver jewelry, working with sterling silver, turquoise, and other precious stones. My other art forms include painting with water color, teaching Native American beadwork, fashion design, with a focus on ribbon skirts and shirts. I write poetry and short stories as well. I’m now working with Indigenous Education, Inc., Home of the Cobell Scholarship in Albuquerque, NM. I have a passion for hiking the mountains of New Mexico.
Kathy Deeshchii'nii
Administrative Associate
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Hello (Yá’-át’ééh), my name is Kathy Deeshchii’nii and am Diné from the Navajo Nation, I am Todích’íí’nii (Bitter Water), maternal clan, born for the Tłógi (Hairy Ones), paternal clan. I joined Indigenous Education Inc., in January 2022 as an Administrative Associate after 30 years working at the University of New Mexico. I have a wonderful husband, Dan, and four adult sons who all live in Albuquerque, we have two beautiful granddaughters and two dogs. The IEI staff have been welcoming and supportive; I look forward to establishing new working relationships and assisting our native students across the US and Alaska. Thank you (ahéhee’)
Skylynn Olvera
OASIS Manager
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Sky is from Gallup, NM, and is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is a UNM alumna with a BS in Population Health. Sky helps manage the OASIS Portal and occasionally supports the research and scholar success team. She enjoys spending time with her three cats and watching reality TV. Fun fact: Sky is a Cobell Scholar.
Oscar Corona
Scholarship Operations Associate
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Oscar Corona is from Albuquerque, NM. He studied at the University of New Mexico where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Managerial Information Systems. In his free time Oscar likes to spend time with his daughter, family, and friends. Oscar joined the team in September 2023 as Scholarship Operations Associate and helps manage the OASIS Portal. He looks forward to helping Native Scholars continue their higher education pursuits through the Cobell Scholarship Program.
Michelle Van Pelt
Outreach Associate
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Michelle is from the lower village of Munqupi, AZ and a member of the Hopi tribe. She continues her studies at Arizona State University. Michelle has over twenty-five years of experience as a student service provider specializing in scholarship advisement and outreach. She was employed with the American Indian Graduate Center/Scholars, now known as Native Forward Scholars Fund. During that time, she was instrumental in developing outreach management initiatives for the Gates Millenium Scholars program partnership. For nine years, Michelle was employed at the Nixyaawii Community School as a career, college preparation, art, social media instructor and was the ASPIRE Coordinator. Michelle enjoys providing academic opportunities to tribal nations across the country and continues this work now with the Cobell Scholarship Program at Indigenous Education, Inc. Her passions include videography, traveling, photography, and spending time with her family.
Olivia Trujillo
Scholar Success Coordinator
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Olivia Trujillo, a member of the Diné Nation, is Áshįįhi (Salt People Clan), born for Tsin sikaadnii (Clamp Tree Clan). Her maternal grandpa is Kiyaa’áanii (The Towering House Clan), and her paternal grandpa is Bit’ahnii (Within His Cover Clan). She received her BS in Public Health from the University of Arizona and her MPH with a concentration in Maternal & Child Health and Health Communications from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Olivia currently serves as the Scholar Success Coordinator. In this role she hopes to utilize the power of knowledge, compassion, and dedication to uplift underserved communities, especially Indigenous populations. She is committed to creating positive change and serving as a guiding light for future generations. She currently resides in Baltimore, MD. In her free time she enjoys traveling, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family, included her dog-son, Rory.
Micah Jewett
Social Media Intern
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Micah Jewett is a proud member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and grew up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. She attended Colorado State University, where she studied Journalism and Media Communication as well as Legal Studies. Micah is the Social Media Intern at Indigenous Education, Inc. (IEI) with the Cobell Scholarship Program. She spends her time promoting Cobell Scholarship opportunities, the Cobell Scholars mobile app, Cobell Community, and all aspects of the Cobell Scholarship program on social media platforms. Micah uses her perspective as a recent student in her work at IEI and strives to ensure that targeted audiences are reached, and social media presence is expanded. A fun fact about Micah is that she is a huge Swiftie!
Press Releases and Research
Inaugural Cobell Award Recipients Announced
Elouise Cobell Dissertation Writing-Year Fellowship Announced
Four National Native Scholarship Providers Release National Study on College Affordability for Indigenous Students
Resourceful Links
Federal Student Aid – Find out how to complete the FAFSA and maintain your federal student aid profile. Great resources for families as well as individual students.
The American Indian College Fund – The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships to students attending Tribal College and University students, and undergraduate and graduate students attending any other accredited public and non-profit private college all across the United States.
Native Forward Scholars Fund – Throughout our 50-year history, Native Forward has empowered over 20,000 students from over 500 Tribes in all 50 states by providing scholarship dollars and support for services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society – AISES provides scholarships to students and provides so much more in student leadership, mentorship, involvement and service.
Scholarship Opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native students is a resources page maintained by the federal Bureau of Indian Education.
The PSAT and SAT are administered by the College Board
The ACT suite of products and services can be found here
GRE – the Graduate Record Exam
GMAT – the Graduate Management Admission Test is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council
LSAT – the Law School Admissions Test is administered by the Law School Admissions Council
MCAT – the Medical College Admission Test is administered by the Association of Medical Colleges.
PCAT – the Pharmacy College Admission Test is a specialized test that helps identify qualified applicants to pharmacy colleges.
DCAT – the Dental College Admission Test is administered by the American Dental Association.
COLLEGE HORIZONS – is a pre-college program for Native American high school students open to current sophomores and juniors. Each summer students work with college counselors and college admissions officers in a five-day “crash course.” The individualized program helps students select colleges suitable for them to apply to, get admitted to, and receive adequate financial aid. Students research their top 10 schools; complete college essays, resumes, the Common Application, and the preliminary FAFSA; receive interviewing skills and test-taking strategies (on the ACT and SAT) and financial aid/scholarship information.
GRADUATE HORIZONS – a four-day workshop for Native college students, college graduates, and master’s students in preparing for graduate school (master’s, Ph.D. or professional school).
Big Future is a program of the College Board designed to help students track their own path to college and career.
Study Public Health, Change the World – find out if Public Health is for you
The public health profession cuts across many different disciplines. Use the SOPHAS Academic Program Finder to search degree programs from over 80 schools and programs.
Pathways to Science is a project of the Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP) . Pathways to Science supports pathways to the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We place particular emphasis on connecting underrepresented groups with STEM programs, funding, mentoring and resources.
Kahn Academy Join Khan Academy to get personalized help with what you’re studying or to learn something completely new. They’ll save all of your progress.
Contact Us At Your Convenience
The Cobell Scholarship Team is available to address any questions or concerns regarding the scholarship process or other related inquiries. Simply complete and submit the form below.
If you are interested to be a reviewer for the Undergraduate or Graduate Review in mid-April each year, please express your interest and submit in the form below.
Indigenous Education, Inc.
The Cobell Scholarship
2155 Louisiana Blvd NE Suite 10100
Albuquerque NM 87110
The Cobell Scholarship
2155 Louisiana Blvd NE Suite 10100
Albuquerque NM 87110
Mission Statement
Providing elevated opportunities for high achieving, community involved Native college students with leadership experience through empowering them with an impactful scholarship experience designed to support their success in higher education.