Dear Partners in Education, 

The Office of Indian Education (OIE) strives to meet the educational and cultural needs of the Native American students across Arizona. With bi-weekly highlights, our goal is to provide consistent communication, share valuable resources, and highlight meaningful opportunities that may benefit Indigenous communities, including educators, students, and parents. 

Sincerely, 

The Office of Indian Education

indianeducation@azed.gov

www.azed.gov/oie

Less than 40 spots remaining, register today! Limited travel reimbursements are available to those who qualify and complete required forms. Travel reimbursement requests will be considered until 5pm on April 16, 2025 (MST, Phoenix time). Visit our website for event registration information. Join the OIE listserv to receive event updates in the coming weeks. Questions, email indianeducation@azed.gov. 

OIE and the National Johnson O’Malley Association Region 1 began a quarterly JOM forum to provide opportunity for all Arizona JOM contractors to unite and discuss various topics including student count process, training needs, effective management, and more. The next JOM Forum:

📆 Thursday, April 24, 2025 from 9am to 12pm (MST) on Zoom 

Visit OIE website for meeting information. Join the JOM Listserv to receive updates. 

On April 9, 2025, the AZ Office of Indian Education released the Tribal Regalia Graduation Toolkit for Students and Families. This resource was developed in collaboration with tribal leaders, state leaders, community partners, and Indigenous families. In the toolkit, find applicable AZ laws and legal protections, significance, visual examples, letter templates, and additional resources. A toolkit version specific for school administrators is coming soon! 

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is hosting this year’s American Indian Convocation to honor and celebrate all 2025 Native American graduates from Maricopa Community Colleges. 

📆 Friday, May 2, 2025 from 6-8pm. 

📍Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. 

🎓 Graduates should RSVP online by April 25. 

Questions, email 2025Convocation@srpmic-nsn.gov. 

Artwork being accepted for a juried exhibition at Helios Education Foundation in Phoenix, AZ (April – June 2025). Cash prizes and art supplies for Best In Show and Runner Up; open to Latino/x and Indigenous high school and college students residing in AZ. Deadline to submit is March 25, 2025. https://xico.org/partner-exhibitions/

First time college freshmen can register now to receive one-on-one assistance with all the steps they need to take to start college in Fall 2025 such as signing up for Freshmen orientation, how to pay housing deposits, registering for classes, taking placement exams, and more! Appointments will be available in-person or virtually. Space is limited for this program: June 2-July 25, 2025. Visit events page to register today! 

📆 April 16, 2025 at 4pm (PT), a virtual event. Do you know a teen struggling with time management, organization, or staying focused? Learn tips on how to manage workloads, stay organized, and more. Free event, for students, parents, or school staff. Registration website.

📆 Friday, April 18, 2025 – from 5:30-7:30pm

📍Phoenix Indian Center, 4041 N. Central Ave, Building B, Phoenix, AZ 85012

Free summer bridge program for 5th-8th grade students who are members of SRPMIC, attend SRPMIC schools, or are returning Jr. ACE students. Provides information on college experiences, STEAM activities, and cultural, language, health, and wellness experiences. 

📆 June 2-12, 2025 at Scottsdale Community College 

View the flyer, and complete the interest form for more information. 

• Free webinar: Building Skills in Middle School for Success – April 16, 2025
• Free, AI powered resume builder for students
• Webinar: Financial Aid Offer Review – April 16, 2025
• Webinar: Affording College 101 – April 22, 2025
• Young Scholars Program (entering 8th grade) – due April 30, 2025
• Native Health Indigenous Wellness Camp – July 14 to July 18, 2025
• Free webinar: College Knowledge for Parents of 9-11th graders – August 27, 2025

Arizona FAFSA Help: https://collegereadyaz.com/fafsa/

AZ Community Foundation scholarship list – April 15, 2025.

College Depot scholarship list – Deadlines vary.

AIANTA Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship due April 25, 2025. 

Catching the Dream Scholarship due April 30, 2025.

Education Forward AZ – Native American Scholarship due May 1, 2025. 

American Indian College Fund Scholarship due May 31, 2025

Native Forward Scholarship due June 1, 2025. 

Navajo Nation Scholarship applications due June 25, 2025.

American Indian Services Scholarship due July 1, 2025.

📆 Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 12pm to 7pm 

📍Mesa Community College, 1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ

Includes arts and crafts vendors, and education, community, and non-profit exhibitors. Free and open to the public. 

Scholarship available to Arizona youth and young adults with disabilities and/or their family to attend the Arizona IDEA Conference on August 20-22, 2025 at the JW Mariott Desert Ridge, Phoenix, AZ. Scholarships cover registration fee, lodging, and mileage for eligible recipients. Apply by May 27, 2025, limited scholarships available. Website. 

Suited for newly elected or appointed tribal government leaders, including those who direct major tribal offices or divisions (including tribal education departments). Attendees will engage and experience faculty presenters on governance matters of vital importance to tribal nations. Travel and accommodations are provided. Applications are due May 16, 2025. Questions, email tribal.leadership.academy@dartmouth.edu or visit website. 

📆 July 28-August 1, 2025

📍 Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Two upcoming webinars aimed to enhance the understanding of Indigenous data practices among researchers and will provide foundational insights into integrating Indigenous data rights and best practices in academic research. Website.

1. Why research teams need an archivist – April 14, 2025 from 4-5pm MST. 
2. The right to know: Connecting Indigenous Librarianship to Cultural Sovereignty – April 24, 2025 from 11am to 12pm MST. 

ADE and First in Math launched the AZ Zip Code challenge, which runs from April 1 to April 30, 2025. Anyone can access at no cost. Use your zip code as the user ID. The password is: lovemath. The zip code that has solved the most math problems wins! All elementary schools within the winning zip code will receive prizes! Get your students to participate today! Visit https://www.firstinmath.com/. 

K-12 math educators in Apache & Navajo counties – a fully funded professional development opportunity available! Collaborate with peers, refine instructional strategies, and improve student learning outcomes. Includes virtual cohort meetings (biweekly, June – September 2025), self paced coursework and expert coaching and support, and a culminating project to apply what you have learned.

Note for site administrators – if you are interested in establishing a site-based or district-based cohort, contact melissa.hamende@tntp.org. 

📆 Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 4-7pm 

📍 Steel Auditorium, Heard Museum, 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 

Educators, you are invited to for an exciting night of professional learning and celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week! Join for exclusive museum access, catered dinner, and a keynote presentation and song by recording artist, motivational speaker, and youth advocate, Talibah Begay (Diné). Admission is $5, and space is limited. Registration details. 

Cu at the Mine – A Minerals and Mining professional learning academy for AZ educators (middle and high school) is taking applications! This 5 day academy empowers AZ educators with hands on lessons, engaging field trips, and expert insights to bring mining and mineral science into classrooms. Earn up to $1000, 40 hours of continuing education credit. Lessons are aligned with AZ Science and CTE standards. Parking, housing, and meals provided at the U of A. Questions, contact mining@arizona.edu. Choose from 3 sessions:

📆 June 2-6, June 23-27, or July 7-11, 2025. Registration details.

1. Empowering High School & College Students to Learn and Maintain Languages for Life Through Courses on Multilingualism.

📆 Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 2-3:30pm AZ time. Registration

2. Transforming Language Teaching Materials – Free webinar series.

📆 April 23, May 14, or June 18. Website and Registration

The Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling (RMACAC) is offering professional development scholarships for one of the following:

• To attend the Guiding the Way to Inclusion conference
• To attend Road Bus Tour to visit select Colorado universities

Did you know – Arizona has reached a 30% FAFSA completion rate for the Class of 2025! However, current national ranking is 50th. This is the highest end-of-March completion rate Arizona has seen since 2021 (33%). Visit www.collegereadyaz.com/fafsa/ for resources.

• Parents/Students can text “HI BENJI” to 602-786-8171 for FAFSA and college/career questions, available 24/7! Or visit www.askbenji.org.
• Parents/students can call the AZ FAFSA Hotline Mon-Fri, 8am to 5pm, at 1-833-293-2372.

• College Access Professional Training certification
• Arizona World Language Leadership Summit – April 25, 2025
• Training: Early Childhood Literacy: Phonological Awareness – April 30, 2025
• Webinar: Summer Steps for Financial Aid – May 6, 2025 (free for counselors)
• Training: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences & Childhood Trauma – May 7, 2025
• ADE Teachers Institute and Leading Change Conference – June 3-5, 2025
• AZ Summer CTE Conference – July 10-16, 2025
• Introduction to Dual Language Immersion (CARLA) – July 14-18, 2025
• The Southwest Middle Grades Summit – September 20, 2025
• ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo – November 21-23, 2025