Ethel Curry American Indian Leadership Scholarship

The Ethel Curry American Indian Leadership Scholarship (ECS) is an annual award administered by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). This scholarship is meant to aid American Indian students in their pursuit of higher education opportunities. Awards generally range from $1000-$5000 per academic year, but may vary. This scholarship is considered gap-funded as it can cover remaining costs after all other financial aid has been applied. The scholarship is open from March 1 to May 31 annually.

Applicant Eligibility

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must:
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe
  • Reside in the state of Minnesota for priority consideration
  • Be accepted into an accredited college or university in the state of Minnesota
  • Be pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, or be pursuing a diploma or certificate in a career-specific program 
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 if applying as an undergraduate
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 if applying as a graduate
  • Not be related to a current MDE employee

Submitting an Application

If the above qualifiers are met, download the application packet and thoroughly review the required items. Submissions are accepted beginning on March 1. All of the required items outlined within the application packet must be submitted together in one email. Incomplete submissions and/or submissions received after the May 31 deadline are not considered.