Have you seen the commercials for the American Indian College Fund – “Help a Student Help a Tribe”? Well, they’re not the only ones contributing to the education of Native American students.
Palms Trading Company created a local scholarship fund to help local Pueblo students cover the costs of college. The fund provides scholarships for undergraduate programs, and it’s entirely donation-based, which gives you, our customers and supporters, an opportunity to help!
We’re of the opinion that any time is the perfect time to consider helping Pueblo students make their dreams of going to college a reality by contributing to the Palms Trading Company scholarship fund.
How You Can Contribute
There are a number of ways that you can donate to the scholarship program. If you are in Albuquerque, you can stop by our store and write a check or make a credit card payment specifically for the scholarship program. Don’t have time to swing through Old Town? No problem. Mail your check or call us to provide your credit card information. (We’ll mail you a receipt for your charitable contribution.)
We welcome all donations – large or small – and every contribution helps expand scholarship opportunities available to tribal students.
Who Can Receive the Scholarship
Palms Trading Company awards annual scholarship(s) to Native American high school seniors who have demonstrated their academic ability and community participation. Scholarships are awarded in May, just before local high school graduation. In order to be eligible, students must:
- Be a New Mexico high school senior of Native American descent
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Be involved in at least one extracurricular activity
There is no formal application process. Instead, the staff at Palms Trading Company works directly with high school guidance counselors at Pueblo high schools and high schools with large Native American student populations (such as Grants) to get recommendations for scholarship recipients, typically in April or May. The number and amount of scholarships awarded each year vary depending on the amount available in the fund. Every year, at least one student receives the scholarship, recently between $500 and $800.
By funding the Pueblo Scholarship, we aim to encourage students to pursue higher education, support tribal youth in their journey, and strengthen our ongoing relationship with Native communities.
We hope to grow this initiative over time, helping even more Native American college students complete their undergraduate programs. Contribute today or contact us for more information. This local scholarship fund is one small way to make a lasting difference.