H onors
in E S ducation
S moke
ignals
OCTOBER 15, 2017
Full-time Graduate
Scholarship Program
The Full-time Graduate
Scholarship Program assists
adult members of the Con-
federated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde Community of Ore-
gon while attending full-time
graduate-level university
studies at regionally accred-
ited nonprofit colleges and
universities.
The goal of the program is
to assist Tribal members with
the financial costs associated
John Harp
with acquiring graduate-level
higher education, thereby
providing the opportunity for personal and professional development that
leads to self-sufficiency and economic independence.
The Full-time Graduate Scholarship (FTG) program supports partici-
pants with a scholarship of $6,000 per term/quarter or $9,000 per semester
depending on the school’s academic calendar for a total of $18,000 per
traditional school year. For students who wish to attend summer sessions
at their university an additional $6,000 is available.
There are no residency or income restrictions on eligibility. Over the past
year the FTG program has served an average of 23 Tribal members per
school term, ranging in age from 22 to 55 and living in 16 states and one
foreign country. In the past three years, 15 Tribal members have earned
master’s or doctoral degrees using this program.
The initial FTG application must be completed and submitted to the
Education Division at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the school
term when first entering the program.
For subsequent terms of enrollment a new application does not need to
be completed; students can contact the FTG program specialist by phone
or e-mail to make arrangements for continuing in the program after the
first term of participation.
For more information on the FTG program or to have an application
sent to you, contact John Harp at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 4591, or by e-mail
at john.harp@grandronde.org.
Part-time College Program
The Part-time College Program assists adult members of the Confed-
erated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon while attending
post-secondary schooling, generally on a part-time basis, at regionally
accredited nonprofit colleges and universities. Participating students
can be pursuing associate, bachelor’s or graduate-level degrees, or simply
taking coursework for their own enrichment.
The goal of the program is to assist Tribal members with the direct finan-
cial costs associated with acquiring higher education, thereby providing
the opportunity for personal and professional development that leads to
self-sufficiency, economic independence and lifelong learning.
Through direct payments to colleges and universities, the Part-time
College (PTC) Program supports participants with payment of tuition,
fees, textbooks and required supplies.
Qualified applicants in the PTC Program are eligible for funding not to
exceed $1,600 for community college students, $2,400 for undergraduate
university students and $3,200 for graduate-level university students per
term/quarter.
Students in schools operating on a semester system are eligible for fund-
ing not to exceed $3,200 per six months for community college students,
$4,800 for undergraduate university students and $6,400 for graduate
level university students.
There are no residency or income restrictions on eligibility.
Over the past year the PTC Program has served an average of 97 Tribal
members per school term, ranging in age from 18 to 75 and living in 19
states and two foreign countries.
The program historically has a student success rate between 85 percent
and 88 percent each term, with successful completion rates of 85.4 percent
and 89.1 percent in the two most recent terms.
The initial PTC application must be completed and submitted to the
Education Department at least 10 days prior to the start of the school
term when first entering the program.
For subsequent terms of enrollment a new application does not need to
be completed; students can contact the PTC Program specialist by phone
or e-mail to make arrangements for continuing in the program after the
first term of participation.
For more information on the PTC Program or to have an application
sent to you, contact John Harp at 1-800-422-0232 ext. 4591 or by e-mail
at john.harp@grandronde.org.
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Tribal Library
Tribal Librarian: Marion Mercier;
Library Aide: Kayla Grijalva
Phone: 503-879-1488/1499
The Tribal Library would like to recognize its many friends of the
library. Approximately one-third of the library collection has been
donated by our community and Tribal membership.
Our 2017 donors include:
Penny Deloe
Leslie Riggs
Veronica Gaston
Teana Kellogg
Candi Buswell
Simon Rock
Frances Stillwell
Legal Department
Tasha Kellogg
Josh Henry
Ava Fagundes
Chris Mercier
John Mercier
April Mackinson
Tina Gilbert
Leroy Good
Mary Ellen Good
Amanda & Ila Mercier
Delyla Torres
Olen Torres
Lennis Mercier
Rick Anderson
Joanne Beeks
CTGR K-5 Program
Sandra Haller
Kathleen George
Debbie Marrington
Teri Mercier
Barbara Danforth
Dennis Hemmeon
Arlettia Krehbiel
Louise Mederios
Jeremiah Haller
Teisha Sawyer
Frank Hostler
Debbie Bachman
Terri Dilts
Tracy Biery
Samantha Dala
Thank you everyone.
Library programming is an important feature of the library provid-
ing cultural, educational and entertain-
ment opportunities in the community.
Highlights of 2017 include:
Monthly exhibits and displays in the
Tribal Library include diverse topics:
Chinese New Year, Black History
Month, Women’s History Month, Poetry
Month, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Sports &
Fitness Month, American Indian Week,
National Recreation & Parks, Sum-
mer Program Theme, Back To School
Theme, Banned Book Week, National
Preparedness Month, Inventor’s Month,
Marion Mercier
National Hunting & Fishing Day, Na-
tional Diversity Month, American Indian Heritage Month, National
Hispanic Heritage Month and Veterans Remembrance Day, plus all
the major holidays and other special days celebrated nationally and
internationally. New features each month.
Reading Incentive Program: Ages 4-17: In 2017, 19 readers read 439
books for a total of 12,490 minutes in the six-week summer program.
Reading Is Our Thing: All ages: In 2017, 213 books were read by
the 19 adults and 14 youth who participated. We also had 127 youth
participate in group library time in this four-week winter reading
incentive program.
Saturday Movie Time at Noon: Family movies with popcorn and
drinks held the first Saturday of the month through May. Movies will
resume on the third Saturday of the month in October.
Family Game Night: Board and card games and Xbox video games
from 5-7 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month through May. “Family
Fun Night” will be offered Oct. 25 and Dec. 21.
Library Collection: The collection is at approximately 17,500 items
that include books for all levels of readers, DVDs, audio books, music
CDs, and newspapers and magazines. The library has a significant
Native American collection with the Grand Ronde and Oregon Tribes
collection featured.
Library Services: The library has five computer stations with In-
ternet and Wi-Fi access. Staff provides help with computer basics,
catalog search and Internet basic search. Coping and fax service are
provided free with a limit of five pages per day unless doing homework
or business.
To find out more, attend a FREE Start Your Business class!
JOIN US at the Grand Ronde Adult Education Building
on the second Thursday of every month at 4PM
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR
LEARN MORE AT:
WWW.meritnw.org
Or call 503 548-7314