YOUTH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM 

POLICIES, GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Afognak Benefits Trust (ABT) administers the Youth Enhancement Program (YEP). Applications are available January 1 through December 15 and are reviewed throughout the year until the budget is exhausted. APPLICATIONS MUST BE postmarked, electronically received by 11:59 PM Alaska Time, or hand-delivered to the Afognak Native Corporation Kodiak or Anchorage office by 5:00 PM Alaska Time on December 15, unless that date falls on a weekend, in which case complete applications must be hand-delivered by 5:00 PM Alaska Time the Friday before the deadline. Funding is limited and available for eligible applicants to attend athletic, scholastic, cultural, and leadership trainings, events, camps, or programs (the “event”) that will help achieve their goals.

Funding can be used for registration, books, fees (e.g., school club or class fees), uniforms, equipment (e.g., sports), musical instruments, travel, and reasonable living expenses related to participating in the event. Examples of qualifying events include private schooling, accredited homeschooling, tutoring, virtual or online events, culture camps, sports camps, and leadership events (e.g., Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Elders & Youth Conference, and Native Village of Afognak’s Dig Afognak Cultural Camp).

Applicants may apply multiple times, provided they do not receive more than $1,500 total per calendar year. The ABT Board of Trustees evaluates the Program annually. Funds are available until the budget is expended.

WHO MAY APPLY

1. The Youth Enhancement Program awards scholarships to: 
2. Afognak Native Corporation Voting Shareholders who are Alaska Native or descendant of an Alaska Native.
3. Adoptees of a Native or a descendant of a Native whose adoption occurred prior to the age of majority and is recognized at law or in equity, and adoptees whose adoption occurred after the age of majority, provided they are both a Native and a voting Shareholder. 
4. Applicant must be under the age of 18 at the time of application, or a high school senior. 
5. Applicant must be accepted to, enrolled in, or registered to participate in an athletic, scholastic, cultural, or leadership training, camp, event or using an accredited homeschool curriculum or age-appropriate educational product that will help the youth reach his or her goals.
6. Applicants or Parent/Legal Guardian/Custodian for those applicants under the age of 18, are encouraged to be in good standing to be eligible for other scholarship programs.
7. Applicant must be an Afognak Shareholder at the time of the event to qualify for a scholarship
8. The Youth Enhancement Program awards scholarships to (i) Afognak Native Corporation Voting Shareholders who are Alaska Native, and (ii) Afognak Native Corporation Voting Shareholders who are descendants of an Alaska Native. 
   1. The two categories of eligible applicants set out in 1 above each include (i) an adoptee of a Native or a descendant of a Native whose adoption occurred prior to the age of majority and is recognized at law or in equity, and (ii) an adoptee whose adoption occurred after the age of majority, but only if that adoptee is both a Native and a voting Shareholder. 
9. Applicants must be under the age of 18 at the time of application, or a high school senior.
10. Applicant must be accepted to, enrolled in, or registered to participate in an athletic, scholastic, cultural, or leadership training, camp, or event or using an accredited homeschool curriculum or age-appropriate educational product that will help the youth reach his or her goals.
11. Applicant must be an Afognak Shareholder at the time of their training or event to qualify for a YEP scholarship.

RHOW TO APPLY

Custodians of eligible scholarship applicants are encouraged to apply through the scholarship portal via my.Afognak.com by logging in to their own my.Afognak account. Only Afognak Shareholders can register on my.Afognak.com.Once logged in, visit the Scholarship tab, select your child’s/ward’s name, and then select the YEP Program. An application can also be downloaded from my.Afognak under the Resources > Publications link or requested through Shareholder Services.

REVIEW PROCESS

ABT has designated the Afognak Shareholder Services staff to select recipients of YEP awards. Upon receiving an application, staff reviews it to determine if it is complete and if the applicant is eligible. Applications will not be processed unless they are complete, including proof of completion following the event. 

Special requests outside of existing policy, conflict of interest for the staff reviewers, or previous violations of the scholarship program policies will be forwarded to ABT’s Scholarship Committee for review. Applicants are notified of their award status after a decision is reached. 

The decision to consider an application, award scholarship funds, and the amount awarded is in the sole and absolute discretion of the ABT Scholarship Committee. 

DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

An applicant may apply multiple times, provided they do not receive more than $1,500 total per calendar year. Funds are available until the budget is expended.

PAY VENDOR DIRECTLY:

• Funds will be disbursed directly to the educational institution or program in one payment. All awards are calculated and paid in U.S. currency.

REIMBURSEMENT: 

• A recipient may be reimbursed for related expenses upon submission of proof of payment and proof of completion within the calendar year of the event. 
• Per Diem for meals while traveling is provided for the student at $50 per day and is paid after the student has submitted proof of completion. Alternatively, meal receipts can be submitted for reimbursement. Meals are not provided for chaperones or others traveling with the applicant.
• Reimbursement of funds is not guaranteed. The Scholarship Program staff may adjust awards based on policy.

SUCCESSFUL RESPONSIBILITIES

The parent, legal guardian, or custodian is responsible unless the applicant is over the age of 18.

COMMUNICATION – Notify the Program immediately if there is a change in contact information, event participation, or enrollment status.

PROOF OF ENROLLMENT – Must provide proof of registration or proof of enrollment.

EVENT CHANGE OR CANCELLATION – Awards are based upon the event identified in the recipient’s application. Changes must be approved, and the following steps completed:

• Submit a letter or email to the ABT Scholarship Program notifying us of the change or cancellation.
• Submit a new budget if costs have changed and proof of re-enrollment if the event has been rescheduled. 
• Complete the re-enrolled event during the calendar year and provide a Proof of Completion Form.

If the recipient does not attend the event or drops out before completion, or if the event is cancelled, funds must be returned to ABT. Failure to do so will result in future applications not being considered until remediated.  

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. The recipient’s award can be adjusted to reflect the cost of the new event up to the maximum of $1,500.  

PROOF OF COMPLETION –Must provide proof of completion following the event. Examples of ‘proof of completion’ can include such documentation as a certificate, letter from the event, or the Proof of Completion Form. Photos of youth participation are strongly encouraged.

MISUSE OF FUNDS –Misuse or attempted misuse of funds will result in the requirement to return funds. Future applications will not be considered, and current awards will be withheld. In cases of fraud or criminal act, the Program may decline new scholarship applications even if the recipient repaid in full. The Program will investigate and make determinations on a case-by-case basis.

YEP APPLICATION CHECKLIST

A complete application packet must be submitted. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Application must include:

• Completed YEP Application for the funding requested.
• The applicant’s voting ANC Shareholder ID number.
• Signed Student Pledge (Parents/Legal Guardians/Custodians must sign for applicants under the age of 18). 
• Copy of the registration, enrollment, or letter of acceptance from the event provider.
• Letter of application (100-300 words) describing how the applicant will benefit from the event. The letter should be written by the student and may include an optional photo. Young students may draw a picture and parents/legal guardians/custodians may submit a letter (and optional photo of youth participating in the event) for youth under age 3.
• Copy of related expenses and other financial resources provided.
• Proof of payment and proof of completion
• Proof of Completion Form following the event to maintain good standing status for future applications.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply through the scholarship portal via my.Afognak.com. An email or letter verifying receipt of an application will be sent to the applicant within seven days. Applicants who apply online will receive an automatic email when their application is received. If an applicant applies online and does not receive an automated email within 15 minutes, he or she should log back onto my.Afognak.com to verify that the application was successfully submitted. 

Paper applications with all items listed above, must be mailed, faxed, emailed or delivered in person to: 

Afognak Benefits Trust

Youth Enhancement Program

300 Alimaq Drive                                              3909 Arctic Blvd, Ste. 500

Kodiak, AK 99615                                              Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone: (907) 486-6014/(800) 770-6014      Phone: (907) 222-9500/(888) 292-9580

Fax: (907) 486-2514                                          Fax: (907) 334-9566

Email: scholarships@afognak.com