ROSEBURG, Ore., May 14, 2024 — The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians awarded scholarships totaling $21,000 for local high school seniors that will be attending UCC in the fall of 2024. An award ceremony took place on May 5, 2024, at Seven Feathers Casino Resort.
One recipient from each of the 14 high schools in Douglas County were selected to receive $1500 awards. Students were chosen based on scholastic effort and commitment (no minimum GPA required), potential for college-level work, good citizenship and behavior, motivation, and industriousness.
Annual gifting of scholarship awards is a high priority for the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Board of Directors and has continued for over 25 years. The Cow Creek Umpqua Education department sends out a letter to teachers in February, asking them to select a student who may not have been able to apply or be awarded other traditional scholarships because of barriers in their lives.
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Chair, Carla Keene, gave a speech at the event. “We recognize the countless hours you have dedicated to your studies, the challenges you have faced head-on, and the resilience you have shown. Many of you know that the journey to education is not easy. You may have faced obstacles and setbacks along the way. But the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians believes wholeheartedly in the transformative power of education, in all forms and at any age.“
Award winners included: