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More than 200 Alaska Native students of the Cook Inlet region were selected in July by The CIRI Foundation's Education Awards Committee to receive scholarships and grants totaling $334,300 for the 1999-2000 academic year.
The number of awards and total award funds are the largest ever approved by the Foundation at any one time in its history. Selections were made consistent with the Foundation's 1999 budgeted scholarship and grant funds and policies.
This year, the
Foundation received more than 270 student applications, an increase
of nearly 40 percent over last year. Lydia Hays, executive director
of The CIRI Foundation, reflected on the large increase, "In general,
there was an across-the-board increase in applications this time. On
the average, the Foundation experiences an estimated 18 percent increase
annually in applications. It is unknown whether the increase this year
is the beginning of a trend or an isolated 'spike' in numbers of applications."
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Based upon a review of applications, Hays noted that there was a significant increase in the number of students who are direct descendants of original CIRI enrollees, a 70 percent increase over last year. Most notably, the number of applicants enrolled in masters degree programs nearly doubled to 29 applicants over last year.
Jessica Bissett, recipient of a $5,000 Achievement Scholarship
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For 15 years the CIRI Golf Classic has been a major contributor to The CIRI Foundation's designated scholarship and grant fund. This year's tournament, held Friday, August 6 at Anchorage's Moose Run Golf Course, raised the largest amount in the golf tournament's history. More than $85,000 was raised for scholarships and grants awarded to CIRI original Native enrollees and their descendants by The CIRI Foundation.
Since its
inception, the CIRI Golf Classic has attracted a diverse group of
players including Anchorage's business elite. Entry fees for the tournament
were $250 a piece, with 144 players participating. Also, The CIRI
Golf Classic raises money through contributions and sponsorships to
underwrite the cost of the tournament and raise additional monies
for the Foundation.
John Hendricks, Vern McKenzie
and Ron Bissett anticipate the next putt.The first CIRI Golf Classic, held in August of 1984, started as a game between colleagues from Peak Oilfield Service Co., a CIRI subsidiary. Over time, the annual golf game evolved into a charity event with The CIRI Foundation becoming the beneficiary. |
"Since CIRI is
committed to helping its Native families fulfill their educational goals,
an annual golf tournament benefiting The CIRI Foundation seemed like
an excellent fund raiser," said Carl Marrs, CIRI president and CEO.
"Today, the CIRI Golf Classic is one of the most respected golf tournaments
in the state."
The first official golf tournament in 1985 raised $2,600 dollars for the CIRI scholarship and grant fund. In 1986, that amount nearly doubled. Over the years, the CIRI Golf Classic has raised more than $600,000 for the CIRI scholarship fund.
According to Dr. Lydia Hays, executive director of The CIRI Foundation, CIRI students appreciate their scholarships, and recognize and praise the golf tournament's generous contribution. Many scholarship recipients have written and expressed their gratitude to Hays. One letter that struck her as especially poetic was from Annastasia Ritchey, who wrote, "Thank you for picking me to represent you and for helping me to catch my dreams."
Other past and current CIRI Foundation scholarship recipients expressed their gratitude. CIRI shareholder Naomi Miller said, "As a single parent, I wouldn't be able to complete my accounting degree without the CIRI scholarship." And Anna Smith shared, "My college scholarship from CIRI has helped me in so many important and positive ways; it's opened up opportunities that wouldn't otherwise have been available for me."
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