David Gipp, a member of the board of trustees for the Cobell scholarship fund. Photo from United Tribes Technical College
The Interior Department has transferred nearly $1 million into the Cobell scholarship fund. The $3.4 billion Cobell trust fund settlement established a $1.9 billion land consolidation program. A portion of every sale from the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations goes to the scholarship fund. “As we developed the Buy-Back Program in partnership with Cobell plaintiffs, we sought not only to right the wrongs of the past, but to provide for future generations of Native American youth,” Hilary Tompkins, a member of the Navajo Nation who serves as Solicitor at DOI, said in a press release. “This program is a rare opportunity to shape the future course of Indian Country and this investment in our next generation of tribal leaders will create a lasting, living legacy for Indian nations.” With the latest transfer, the fund now boasts a balance of more than $5 million. The scholarships are being administered by the American Indian College Fund. A board of trustees -- which recently added David Gipp, the president of the United Tribes Technical College, as a member -- oversees the fund. Under the terms of the settlement, up to $60 million in scholarships will be disbursed. Get the Story:
Press Release: Interior Wraps Year with Total Transfer of $5 Million to Cobell Education Scholarship Fund as a Result of Land Buy-Back Program (DOI 12/30) Related Stories:
DOI puts another $1M from lands sales into Cobell scholarships (10/01)
David Gipp from UTTC joins Cobell scholarship board of trustees (08/13)
DOI puts another $2.9M from land sales into Cobell scholarships (07/01)
DOI makes transfer of nearly $580K into Cobell scholarship fund (4/2)
DOI announces two choices for Cobell scholarship board (1/15)
Join the Conversation
