Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Native American Graduate Fellowship

The fund shall provide for up to two graduate fellowships to be awarded annually at The University of Montana. To be eligible to apply for the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Native American Graduate Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• be accepted to a Master’s or Doctoral degree program at the University of Montana (no professional degrees such as law, business, or pharmacy may apply);

• have a baccalaureate degree from a four-year regionally accredited institution of higher learning anywhere in the United States and have graduated with at least a 2.5 undergraduate cumulative GPA;

• be enrolled at full-time status;

• maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;

• be a Montana resident;

• be an enrolled member of a Montana tribe;

• be a United States Citizen.

Minimum Application requirements:

• Applicants must submit an appropriate standardized test score, if required by program (GRE, GMAT, etc.).

• One page typed essay indicating reasons for pursuing graduate education and goals for application of education.

• Three letters of reference; two must be from academics and one must be from a nonacademic individual.

• Any other requirements the university would like to add.

Upon receipt of the Fellowship, the students are guaranteed one year of funding and allowed a maximum of two years of funding, provided the recipients remain eligible. In order to remain eligible to receive funding for the second year, the students
must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. At the end of fall semester of the first year, the Graduate School will review the students’ academic progress. If the students’ GPA is below a cumulative 3.0 at this time or at the end of the spring semester, the students must reapply for the Fellowship and will be subject to the competitive process for selection.

Preference shall be given to the recipients for designation as a teaching or research assistant, if the program or college has such a position available.