Scholarship Program | Morongo Verified First Descendants

The Rodney T. Mathews, Jr. Memorial Academic & Vocational Scholarship Program for Verified First Descendants of Enrolled Morongo Tribal Member

Purpose

The Rodney T. Mathews, Jr. Memorial Academic & Vocational Scholarship Program has been established to assist verified Morongo First Descendants of Enrolled Morongo Tribal Members with pursuing their education through the granting of financial scholarships. Scholarships shall be awarded to eligible applicants every quarter if funds are available and are to be used for academic purposes. 

The Rodney T. Mathews, Jr. Memorial Academic & Vocational Scholarship Program for Verified First Descendants of Enrolled Morongo Tribal Members contains a lifetime cap per recipient which shall not exceed $200,000 in total funding per recipient. Recipients may re-apply until they have reached the $200,000 lifetime cap. 

Eligibility

Verified Morongo First Descendants are eligible for one (1) Associate’s degree, one (1) Bachelor’s degree, one (1) Master’s degree, and one (1) Doctoral degree, and/or one (1) Vocational Program, subject to Scholarship Fund budget limitations. 

Eligibility Requirements

1. Each applicant must have at least one parent who is an enrolled member of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. A DNA-based descendant verification letter from the Morongo Tribal Affairs office must be on file to be eligible for the scholarship.
2. Each current undergraduate applicant and current vocational school applicant must provide an official transcript showing that the applicant has a cumulative grade-point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0. Each current graduate student must provide an academic transcript showing that the applicant has a cumulative GPA of 3.0. 
3. Academic scholarship applicants must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have financial needs as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. When submitting your FAFSA, ensure we can see your complete name, year, and date of your application being processed. 

Scholarship Checklist for Applicants

• Documentation of 60 hours of completed Community Service 
• Descendant Verification on file with Morongo Tribal Affairs office
• Copy of Acceptance Letter
• Transcripts – Official copies of student transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended.
•  Academic Study Plan form must be completed and signed by your institutional academic advisor for all academic scholarships.
• (First Time Applicants) Personal Statement & Essay Questions. All applicants must answer question A and respond to either item 1 or item 2 from question B. Please type essay responses and attach on a separate sheet of paper.
• Proof of FAFSA submission 

---