$175,000 awarded to 15 current students
The University of Rhode Island has established the Narragansett
Undergraduate Scholarship for students who are citizens of the federally
recognized Narragansett Nation.
Loren Spears, URI class of 89, executive
director of the Tomaquag Museum
The University has awarded $175,000 to 15 students this academic
year. An additional 15 to 20 students will benefit from the program in fall
2022.
Funding will be increased each year as additional students receive
awards. The awards are based on Narragansett Nation citizenship.
In 2017, members of the American Indian/Native American Advisory Council submitted a proposal to then-President David M. Dooley, advocating for tuition waivers for undergraduate students.
The council said that as URI is a
land-grant institution on the traditional homelands of the Narragansett Nation,
waiving tuition for Narragansett tribal members would be a critical first step
in creating opportunities for more Indigenous students to earn their degrees at
the University.
“I am proud of everyone who helped bring this critical initiative
to fruition,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “Acknowledging and respecting
the original inhabitants of the land the University occupies is an important
part of our mission and our values and I am pleased that we are able to honor
and support members of the Narragansett Nation in this way.”
“As a Narragansett citizen and alumna of the University of Rhode
Island, I am proud to be part of the team that worked hard to bring this to
fruition and ensure access for future generations of Narragansett students,”
said Lorén Spears ’89, Hon ’17, tri-chair of the council with Wanda Hopkins and
William Ohley.
In the summer of 2021, the University’s senior leadership established the scholarship program, which took effect last fall. The scholarship covers full, in-state tuition and fees for up to four years for students with direct Narragansett Indian Tribal Nation membership/citizenship who have been accepted to a URI undergraduate program (current students are also eligible). It also includes up to an additional $5,000 annual grant based on full-time enrollment.
“The Narragansett Scholarship has aided me in my ability to attend
URI by paying for my tuition. Without it, I would not have been able to afford
tuition. It also allowed me to be able to afford meals while I was on campus, “
said Nittaunis Baker ‘25, a marine biology major.
Chali Machado ‘23, a double major in anthropology and Africana
studies, as well as a minor in underwater archaeology is also grateful for the
scholarship.
“I am thankful for the University of Rhode Island and its
acknowledgment toward the First Nations people of these lands, the Narragansett
Tribal Nation,” said Machado. “I appreciate the generous monetary support of
tribal members as they seek disciplines in the vast fields of academia. This
award has opened many doors and has afforded possibilities to many native
people.”
Recognizing that the scholarship is just the first step, the
University through the Office of Admission, will hold a series of community
information sessions to help students prepare and successfully plan for their
higher education journey. For more information about the URI Narragansett
Undergraduate Scholarship or admission sessions, please contact Undergraduate Admission.
The scholarship is one of several collaborative Indigenous initiatives spearheaded by the American Indian/Native American Advisory Council and members of the URI community. Others include a University land acknowledgment statement, institutional support for the Native American Student Organization, recruitment of Indigenous scholars, and Indigenous curriculum development.
In addition, the Tomaquag Museum will relocate to the URI Kingston Campus in
the next few years.
“The Narragansett Tribal scholarship gave me a sense of
acknowledgment and recognition of not only me but all Narragansett students,
our history, and our future presence on campus,” said animal science major
Laurel Spears ‘22.
