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New Scholarships for Ute Students at U of U

University of Utah
Some of the funding for new scholarships for Ute students will come from merchandise sales

The University of Utah worked out an agreement with the Northern Ute Tribe this year to continue using the Ute name for its athletic teams. That agreement includes new academic scholarships for members of the tribe.

The University has now established a scholarship fund for enrolled members of the Ute tribe. They’ll be able to get eight thousand dollars a year, enough to cover tuition and fees for a full-time undergraduate.

Mary Parker, the university’s associate vice-president for enrollment management, says part of the program involves going to high schools attended by tribal members and reaching out to students and guidance counselors.

“Talking about the scholarship opportunities, how we can work with them to develop a great program, pipeline program, that will help us be able to recruit those students to come to the University of Utah, letting them know that there are funds available," Parker said.

Crystal Grant, a tutor who works with Ute students at Uintah High School in Vernal, told KUER a limited number of students could benefit, since the criteria for being an enrolled member of the tribe are very strict.

Money to fund the program will come from the University’s sale of clothing and other merchandise as well as from private donors. A committee made up of tribal members and university administrators will decide who gets the scholarships.

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