The Arizona Lottery is renowned for dedicating a large percentage of its revenue to higher education and the committee recently announced that it has donated $25,000 to support Native and Indigenous students at Northern Arizona University. The Grand Canyon State Lottery has partnered with the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Honors College to fully fund the participation of five students in the Honors Native American Summer Research Program (HNASRP) in June 2024.
In his announcement speech, Arizona Lottery CEO Alec Thomson said:
"The Arizona Lottery is proud to back programs that support higher education within the state. NAU’s Honors Native American Summer Research Program shares this commitment by providing students invaluable opportunities to not just further their education but to truly thrive."
You are eligible to apply for this funding if you are an NAU undergraduate student who identifies as Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander heritage and are in your first three years of education. The Arizona Lottery and NAU encourage interested students to apply online for the funding by March 22, 2024.
NAU’s Honors Native American Summer Research Program
The Honors Native American Summer Research Program was established by NAU in 2022 to support and encourage Indigenous students to succeed in higher education. The program is a five-week experience that involves living and learning on NAU’s Flagstaff campus. It also includes mentorship from faculty and peers. All participants engage in a Guest Speaker Series and Research Roundtables and receive guidance and support from other members of tribal, local, and campus communities. The experience culminates in a symposium of presentations of the student’s work. The HNASRP is noted for national awards and recognition won by previous students.
In response to the donation, the Honors College Dean Kevin Gustafson said,
“The Honors Native American Summer Research Program is a unique opportunity that empowers students to gain tangible career experience while conducting research. Thanks to the Arizona Lottery and their gift, the next cohort of students will be financially supported while they embark on supervised research and strengthen their connections to their peers, Indigenous culture, and NAU."
The Arizona Lottery gives back
Each year, the Arizona Lottery gives back hundreds of millions of dollars of lottery revenue. In 2023 alone, the AZ Lottery donated $38.12 million to help students realize their dreams in higher education. $33.09 million was given to Health and Human Services to help crime victims, the homeless, and children in need. $14.91 million was donated to support business and economic development to create jobs throughout the state. A further $10 million was allocated to environmental conservation to help protect Arizona’s natural wildlife and preserve the state’s stunning landscapes.
Enjoy playing the Arizona Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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