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Higher Education Assistance Award

Samish Higher Education Assistance Award

This program provides financial support to Samish Tribal Citizens furthering their education after high school, who are in programs such as undergraduate degrees, vocational training, Master's degrees, and others. Please contact the Education department if you have questions about whether your program is eligible for support.

Forms for Program Participation

Letter of Intent

Who: All students planning to join the Higher Education Assistance Program next academic year (Fall 2025 - Spring 2026)
When: January 1st to June 30th (once per academic year)
Why: Letters of Intent help Samish to serve more eligible students.

You will also need to fill out one of the forms below! For more details, visit our Education Blog.

New Student Applications and Continuing Student Request Forms

Students submit a New Student Application or Continuing Student Request Form every term to receive the award. Forms are reviewed for completeness and later awards are processed near the beginning of the term for which the application applies.

New Student Application

Students who have never applied OR are re-applying after two or more quarters without assistance must use the New Student Application.

Continuing Student Request Form

Students who are active in the program and have recently received assistance should use the more streamlined Continuing Student Request Form.

IRS Ruling: General Welfare Benefits for Tribal Members

All awards received under this program are covered under the IRS ruling regarding General Welfare Benefits for Tribal Members. Under this rule, awards are not considered part of the recipient’s gross income and do not qualify for inclusion by schools during Federal Financial Aid calculations.

Should you need any guidance or assistance understanding these rules, please contact the Education department.

Education