Scholarships

Eligibility

Who can apply?

Scholarships are open to Native American students across the United States AND any Non-Native student who has graduated from the Coachella Valley, full-time post-secondary or graduate student with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher who also meets at least ONE of the following criteria:

Applicant is an employee in good standing or the dependent of an employee of any entity of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. (Spotlight 29 Casino, Tortoise Rock Casino, Twenty-Nine Palms Gaming Commission, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians Tribal Administration, and Twenty-Nine Palms Tribal EPA)

Applicant is an enrolled member of a Federally-Recognized Native American Indian Tribe. Must provide proof of enrollment.

Applicant is either a current resident of or has graduated from a high school in either the Coachella Valley or the Morongo Basin.

List and Procedures

2023 fall - application Procedures

PERSONAL ESSAY: A personal essay describing your history and your long-term goals. It is important to include why higher education is important to achieving these goals and how your extra curricular interests and community service relates to your education and career goals. Your essay must be a minimum of 1,000 words, typed in 12pt font.
LIST OF HONORS/ACTIVITIES: A list of honors, activities and community service not to exceed one page.
TWO RECOMMENDATION LETTERS: Two (2) letters of recommendation dated within the last six months and signed. If possible, request in a letterhead. Letters from family members will not be accepted.
PROOF OF ACCEPTANCE: Proof of acceptance or enrollment for the 2023 fall semester showing full-time status at an accredited institution. Acceptable documents include an acceptance letter from your school, or a print out of your currently enrolled courses from the institution's website indicating full-time status.
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT: Your most recent official transcripts by secured email to info@theresamike.org or regular mail, sealed by your registrar's office to: Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation 46-200 Harrison Place Coachella, CA 92236
SAR REPORT: A copy of your 2023-24 SAR report obtained after completing your FAFSA application. ALL pages must be included. Please black out social security numbers on the report.
AGI: If you do not qualify for FAFSA or CA Dream Act, please include page one of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and black out any social security numbers.
PHOTO: A professional looking head shot photograph (4"x 6") of yourself alone.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Complete all sections and sign in all required places. Incomplete or illegible forms may not be considered.

2023 Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Application

Starting January 30, Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation will start accepting scholarship applications for the fall of 2023. All applications must be submitted by June 30, 2023, at 11:59 PM (PST).

The scholarship application is NOT a savable form. It is recommended that applicants enter replies to the questions in a separate document and then copy and paste answers into the form. If there are changes after submitting the scholarship application, it is the applicant's responsibility to notify the foundation about the changes of the original submission including changing schools, or dropping classes. If the applicant fails to notify the foundation of the changes, the application is subject to disqualification.

Apply Here

"Thank You" Notes from 2022 recipients

JASON DAVALOS

"Dear Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation:

I would like to thank you kindly for selecting me as a recipient of the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. I am honored to have been selected for this scholarship and I humbly accept this generous award.

As a future healthcare professional, it is part of my mission to reduce healthcare stigma in BIPOC communities through cultural understanding and ensure they have access to educational, preventive care."

MICHAEL LOMAKEMA

"As the new school semester starts, I am extremely grateful and honored in being selected to receive the Theresa A Mike Scholarship. I am excited and look forward to demonstrating strong efforts in and outside the classroom in my educational journey. The scholarship will assist my financial obligations and provide a focus with classes. In addition, I am extremely grateful for the committee's support and confidence in me with this scholarship. I am truly honored and humbled by this award. I look forward to proudly and respectfully representing myself as a recipient of the Theresa A Mike Scholarship.

Kwa Kwa (Thank You)"

DEANTE MOORE

"I am so beyond grateful and proud to be chosen to represent this scholarship and I am thankful to have the support of this wonderful foundation during this important time of my college career! I am happy that you all believe in my dreams and chose to acknowledge my accomplishments! I can’t wait for what is in store for me in the upcoming semesters!"

JOHNNY BUCK

"I am honored and so grateful for the TAMSF's investment and support, especially as it is in honor of Theresa Mike's legacy and dreams.

I look forward to sharing my progress this year with you."

JANELLE CRONIN

"I want to personally say ahee’hee (thank you) for your generosity in supporting the educational dreams and pursuits of Native American/American Indian students across Indian Country. Because of your support this scholarship allows me to focus on school, maintain my GPA and support my growing family as I work towards my PhD. I look forward to being able to give back to my community one day and hope to show as much generosity as you have shown me."

CEYDEL BARRAGAN

"Thank you very much for this opportunity. I feel blessed to be assisted in a way that will help propel my journey in order to reach academic success!"

FRIDA STEPHANIE AVILA

"Thank you so much for everything! I appreciate everything you all do!"

VANESSA GAYTAN

"Thank you for the wonderful news! I really appreciate all of the support the Theresa A Mike Scholarship Foundation has given me throughout the years and am so excited to be entering my last year of graduate school!"

ANGEL MILLS

"Thank you and the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation for giving me the ability to go graduate school. The work you all do is deeply appreciated!"

RICHARD OCCHINO

"I am so appreciative of this award. I would like to say thank you to all of the people apart of the scholarship process. Once again, I am truly greafull for the blessing of this scholarship."

HOLLY MASTEN

"Thank you so much for your support! This means a lot to me for my educational goals and what I can achieve! Koweeshcho’"

"Thank You" Notes from 2021 recipients

Bernardo Lino

Dear TAMSF,

"I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation towards you and the organization for selecting me as a recipient for the prestigious Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for this generous contribution made towards my education. My family and I are very honored and appreciative for this award"

KAYLA CASTILLO

"Thank you for selecting me as a recipient of the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship. The Foundation has been so generous in giving local students like me an opportunity like no other. Because of the great financial support you are providing, I now feel more confident as I take the next steps in my academic career"

TRINITY REYES-ESCOBAR

“Thank you so much! I greatly appreciate it.

Best, Trinity”

JULIANNA GAYTAN

“Thank you so much!! This is great news, and I am so appreciative"

CECILIA WHITE

“Thank you so much for the great news!"

JUAN PADILLA

“Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity"

JIAWOEI HU

“Thank you so much!"

GERARDO "JERRY" QUINTANA

“Thank you so much for the great news! It is such an honor. I am deeply grateful!"

JESSICA HERNANDEZ-BELTRAN

“Thank you for these great news!

I appreciate the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation for rewarding me with this generous gift to help me pay for college. Thank you very much"

BALDOMERO FELIX-FELIX

“Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity"

DULCE LUCERO

“Thank you so much for this! It really means a lot and makes a huge difference in my college journey. I whole heartily appreciate the support. Thanks so much once again."

IGNACIO MORENO

“I am honored to have received this scholarship.

I appreciate it greatly. It really means a lot that this organization believes in me"

SARAH CHATTER

“Thank you very much for the confirmation and award”

EVA CERVANTES

“Thank you for the award. I’m truly honored to receive this scholarship"

CELINA AVALOS

“It is such an honor to receive this award! Thank you and the rest of the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation for this award. I’m extremely grateful!"

OMAR FERREIRA

“That’s great news thank you!"

GARDENIA FERNANDEZ

“Thank you so much for the great news! I am very appreciative"

CRYSTAL ESCOBAR

“Thank you! This is wonderful news!"

HOLLY MASTEN

“Thank you so much, this is great news!"

2020 Thank-you Notes

Alexa carter

Dear TAMSF,

I am so beyond grateful for being a 2020 recipient of your scholarship.This is the second time this foundation has blessed me with an academic scholarship and I can't begin to express my gratitude. In such difficult times this scholarship really goes a long way so thank you for seeing the value in me as a recipient. I would like to give a special thank you to Makeyli Marroquin who alwasy answered my questions so kindly over those past 2 years. Thank you for your incredible support and believing in my capabilities. - Alexa Carter

Maritza Lojero

I am a third year scholarship recipient. I wanted to express how thankful I am to receive your tremendous support by funding my education. I appreciate all that you do for myself and all the other students you serve. Thank you again for your support, your foundation has made a positive impact in my life. - Maritza Lojero

Talia Dixon

I would like to express my deep gratitude for this generous contribution towards the furtherance of my education. I am further aided in pursuit of my artistic and academic goals. I cannot thank the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation enough for the encouragement I’ve been provided over the course of my undergraduate education. Thank you for this scholarship, and for all the opportunities provided to students like myself by means of your support - Talia Dixon

Amanda Flores

The Theresa A. Mike scholarship's consistent financial commitment to my education has been a key factor to my success at USC. The award for the past three years has been and continues to be greatly appreciated by my family and me, especially during this unprecedented time. I continually do my best to let my work (academic and extracurricular-wise) at USC be a reflection of the generosity displayed by the donors and committee. - Amanda Flores

Isabel Pelayo

Thank you so much!!!! I truly appreciate this support! I will make sure this investment in my education will be put to great use! Once again thank you endlessly!

Isabel Pelayo

Irieanna Meza

I wanted to thank you and the scholarship foundation for the Theresa A mike scholarship. Without the help of you guys I wouldn’t be here starting my first quarter as a nursing student! The contribution you guys made towards my schooling is such a big impact. For that I will be forever grateful. I am very honor to have been selected for this scholarship!

Irieanna Meza

Allison

Thank you so much!! I am so incredibly grateful to the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation for the generous scholarship and helping me to attend graduate school. I cannot possibly thank you enough!! Thank you for making this possible for me for so many years.

Thank you again,

Allison

Gisselle Contreras

Oh I’m so happy! Thank you for supporting me again this year. I am grateful for the generosity of the Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation and the Edison grant for investing in my future.

Thank you again and have a great day!

-Gisselle Contreras

Vanessa Gaytan

I am emailing to thank you and everyone else on the scholarship committee for your continuous support throughout my academic journey. I really appreciate this scholarship organization, and feel blessed to receive your help in paying for my tuition. I will continue to work hard to be worthy of your support and I hope to make you all proud.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Gaytan