Richard Frost Youth Memorial Scholarship Application

The Richard Frost Youth Memorial Scholarship (RFYMS) is administered by Koniag and distributed from the Koniag Settlement Trust. The Koniag Board of Directors dedicated this scholarship in memory of long-time board director and youth education advocate Richard Frost.

Voting Koniag Shareholders and their registered Descendants are invited to apply for funding to attend athletic, scholastic, cultural, and leadership trainings, events, camps, or programs (the “event”) that will help the student to reach their goals.

Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the program year which runs from April 1, 2023 to March 23, 2024 for Fiscal Year 2024. Applications will not be processed unless they are complete.

Scholarship funding is evaluated on an annual basis. Applicants can apply for scholarships more than once each year, but funding is capped at $1,000 total for each applicant each award year.

1. The Richard Frost Youth Memorial Scholarship Program awards scholarships to: voting Koniag Shareholders, defined as: Koniag Shareholders who are Native and Koniag Shareholders who are Descendants of a Native and Registered Descendants of voting Koniag Shareholders, defined as: any lineal or legally adopted descendant of a voting Shareholder who has registered with Koniag.
2. Applicants must be at least 3 years up to and through 12th grade at the time of their application.
3. Applicants must be accepted or registered to participate in an event (examples above) that will help the student reach their This program does not cover tuition at private schools, tuition for college level academic classes, laptops, or iPads.

After submission, Koniag’s scholarship review team checks the application to ensure it is complete and eligible for the award, a process that can take up to two weeks to finalize. Once finalized, the applicant is notified of their application status. We are unable to expedite the review of applications or payments.

The decision to award scholarship funds to an applicant and the amount of any funds awarded is in the sole and absolute discretion of Koniag’s review team. Similarly, it is solely within the discretion of the review team whether to allow applicants to reapply for funding after previous noncompliance with scholarship guidelines.

1. Scholarship funds will be sent directly to the educational institution or program in one payment.
2. A recipient may be reimbursed for related expenses with proof of payment during the event’s award Please note that reimbursement of funds is not guaranteed so sending funds directly to the program is preferred.
3. Scholarship funds can be used for the following expenses: registration, books, fees, uniforms, equipment, supplies, travel, and reasonable living expenses in conjunction with the The Scholarship Program may determine which costs are acceptable and adjust awards accordingly.
4. Applicants can submit multiple applications as they wish but may not receive more than $1,000 total per award year.

1.  Communication:

Notify Koniag immediately if are changes to contact information, enrollment status, or the event.

2.  Event Change:

Awards are based upon the event identified in the recipient’s application. Any changes to the event may result in a re-evaluation of the award amount. Changing an event will not result in an increase of a scholarship award but may result in a decrease of a scholarship award, based on new financial need information.

Applicants must complete the following if changing an event:

Ì    Submit a short letter or email to Koniag explaining the change.

Ì Submit a new budget. The recipient’s total score will be adjusted to reflect the cost of the new event and the scholarship award will be adjusted accordingly.

3.  Failure to Attend/Drop Out:

If a recipient does not attend the event or drops out before completion, Koniag may require the return of funds awarded, by the institution, by the recipient, or a combination thereof. If the recipient does not return scholarship funds to Koniag, future applications will not be considered.

4.  Proof of Completion:

Recipients of scholarship funds must submit proof of completion. Examples of ‘proof of completion’ can include such documentation as a certificate, letter from the event, or the Richard Frost Youth Memorial Scholarship Program Proof of Completion Form.

5.  Misuse of Funds:

If a recipient misuses or attempts to misuse scholarship funds, Koniag may require the return of funds awarded, by the institution, by the recipient, or a combination thereof. If the recipient fails to return scholarship funds to Koniag, future applications will not be considered, and any current awards approved for the recipient will be withheld.

Please read this section carefully as incomplete applications will not be processed.

Please ensure each of the following requirements are met before you submit your application:

• Each field is complete. You can find your Shareholder ID or registered Descendant ID in the Koniag portal at https://mykoniag.koniag. com , or by calling our Shareholder Services Department at (907) 561-2668 or toll-free at 1-800-658-3818.
• Media release authorization is completed.
• Signatures of both applicant and parent/ guardian are completed.
• An essay written by the applicant is included. Middle school and High school age applicants should prepare an essay between 100 to 300 words. Elementary age applicants may draw a picture or dictate a short essay to their parent/guardian.
• Proof of enrollment A letter of acceptance from the event, proof of payment, or some other documentation that proves the student has secured a spot in the A copy of an un- approved application to the event will not be accepted.
• Proof of expense Either a statement from the event showing how much is owed (if payment to the event is requested) or detailed receipts showing how much was already paid to the event (if parent or guardian reimbursement is requested). The receipts or invoices must match the budget section on page 1 of the application exactly. Copies of un-cashed checks will not be accepted.
  • Equipment/Uniforms/Materials/Supplies: if these items need to be purchased somewhere other than directly from the event, the parent/ guardian must purchase them and provide detailed receipts for reimbursement.
  • Meals while traveling: Per Diem for meals while traveling is provided for the student if s/he is traveling away from their home community for their event. Per Diem is provided at $50 per day and is paid after the student has submitted proof of completion OR the student can save and submit meal receipts for reimbursement. Meals are not provided for chaperones or any other individual traveling with the student.