22
S moke S ignals
APRIL 15, 2016
Leno only second Tribal
member on committee
COMMITTEE continued
from front page
fairs Director Cameron Smith on
all veterans’ issues and concerns
in the state.
Leno said he was told about the
opening on the Advisory Commit-
tee by Steve Bobb Sr., chair of the
Tribe’s Veterans Special Event
Board and a fellow Vietnam War-
era Marine Corps veteran.
“I looked into it to see if there
was an opportunity to put in for
it,” Leno said. “I gathered up infor-
mation to see if it was something I
could do along with my job as Tribal
chair. I think as long as I schedule
out and Jack (Giffen Jr., Tribal
Council vice chair) can certainly
step up for a day.”
“It’s always exciting to welcome
new members to the Advisory
Committee who bring with them
a unique perspective and personal
approach,” Smith said. “Chair Reyn
Leno brings a wealth of experience
to our committee, both as a Viet-
nam veteran and as a leader in the
Tribal community.
“As we strive to better serve all
veterans, we are excited to contin-
ue to grow our partnerships and
better connect with Tribal veterans
across Oregon. Tribal veterans
have served at a higher level per
capita than any other group and
face unique challenges as they seek
to access their earned benefits. We
are very fortunate to have the vol-
unteer support and efforts of our
Advisory Committee members to
help make us better advocates for
Oregon veterans.”
The Advisory Committee meets
quarterly on the first Wednesday
in March, June, September and
December. The next meeting will
be held on June 1 in Klamath Falls.
Leno becomes the second Grand
Ronde Tribal member to be ap-
pointed to the Advisory Committee.
Tribal Elder and Vietnam War-era
Navy veteran Gene LaBonte was
appointed to a four-year term on
the committee in 2008 and was
elected to serve as chair for one
year in 2009.
“I actually talked to Gene,” Leno
said. “He said there was a lot of
travel. That kind of scared me a
little bit, but I found out they only
meet quarterly and, of course, one
thing I love to talk about is Native
Americans and veterans. I think
that veterans are really special.”
Leno said the appointment means
having the opportunity to provide a
voice for veterans on specific issues.
“I think there is too much paper-
work for veterans,” Leno said. “I
think one part of my role might be,
because I’ve done it for the Tribe for
so long, is you need to talk to the
guys at the top. You need to talk to
senators and congressmen in D.C.
And you need to explain to them
why veterans can’t wait this long. I
think I have done that for the Tribe
and I think I can do some of that
for veterans.”
Leno said he hopes to improve
Oregon’s low participation rate
among veterans accessing their
earned benefits.
“I’d like to work with the state to
try and increase that,” Leno said.
“Of course, we have a memorandum
of understanding to serve our vet-
erans here (at the Tribal Health &
Wellness Clinic) and I’d like to see
that expanded. … We need to get
more veterans taking advantage of
what’s available.”
EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES
Native American Scholarships
Name of
Agency
Where to Apply
Deadline Funding
American
Indian
College
Fund
American
Indian
Science and
Engineering
Society
American
Indian
Science and
Engineering
Society
Association
on
American
Indian
Affairs
https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/all/ford-motor-
company-tribal-college-scholarship/3266
May 31,
2016
$3000
http://www.aises.org/scholoarships/lighting-pathway-faculty-
careers-natives-stem%E2%80%8B
May 22,
2016
annual
stipend of
$2,250 for
two years
http://www.aises.org/scholarships/certified-federal-
surveyors-scholarship
Open until
Filled
$1200
http://www.indian-affairs.org/scholarships.html
June 1,
2016
Alpha
Kappa
Alpha
Educational
Advanceme
nt
Foundation
American
Indian
Services
Scholarship
http://www.akaeaf.org/publications/
April 15,
2016
Varies
(there are
9 different
scholarshi
ps
available
through
AAIA)
$500-
$1500
http://www.americanindianservices.org/students.html
Aug 30,
2016
Varies
BIE Student
Scholarship
&
Internship
Opportuniti
es
Continental
Charles
Society
Crockett
‘Ohana
Indian
Scholarship
Health
Services
Student
Grants
Various
http://www.bie.edu
April 30,
2015
Varies
http://www.free-
http://www.pauahi.org/scholarships/
4u.com/continental_society_daughters_of_indian_wars_(sch
olarship).htm
http://www.scholarship.ihs.gov/
June 15,
April
1,
2016
2016
$1000
Varies
June 15,
2016
Varies
http://www.studentgrants.org/native-american/
Varies
Varies
https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/by-state/oregon-
scholarships
Varies
Varies
Native American Scholarships
General Scholarships
Scholarship
Name
West Valley
Hospital
Volunteer
Service
Fire Sprinkler
Essay contest
Where to Apply
Deadline
Amount
http://www.salemhealth.org/about/hospital-
April 30,
scholarships-/west-valley-hospital-volunteer-services- 2016
scholarship
$1000
https://www.afsascholarship.org/high-school-
contest/
April 6,
2016
$2000
Zombie
Apocalypse
https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-
scholarships/zombie-apocalypse-
scholarship#fromscholarshipexperts
October
31, 2016
$2000
Stuck at Prom
http://stuckatprom.com
N/A
$10,000
Design a
Greeting Card
http://www.gallerycollection.com/greetingcardscont
ests.htm
February
25, 2016
$10,000
Make it With
Wool
Vegetarians
http://www.makeitwithwool.com/
N/A
$2000
http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm
$10,000
Common
Knowledge
http://www.cksf.org/index.cfm?Page=ScholarshipsSu
perpower
February
20, 2016
Rolling
deadline
Fastweb
Various
(There are
over 44pages
of
scholarships
on this link)
Maps Credit
Union (4
different
scholarships)
Oregon State
Grange
Foundation
www.fastweb.com
http://north.salkeiz.k12.or.us/page/scholarship-
opportunities
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
https://www.mapscu.com/scholarships.html
February
29, 2016
Varies
Heather
Westphal
Memorial
Scholarship
$5000
http://orgrange.org/oregon-state-grange-foundation/ May 1,
2016
Varies
http://www.firescience.org/fire-and-forestry-scholarships/
$2000
June 1,
2016