Chief Manuelito Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship and Financial Assistance

Introduction
The Navajo Nation created the Chief Manuelito Scholarship in 1980 to honor outstanding high school graduates. Named for Chief Manuelito (Hastiin Ch’ilhaajiin, 1818–1893), a leader who urged the Navajo people to pursue education while safeguarding Navajo culture and traditions, the award provides recipients with $7,000 per academic year to help cover direct educational costs at an accredited post‑secondary institution.

Award recipient requirements
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Enroll in and successfully complete at least 12 semester credit hours each academic term (college‑level graded courses).

Eligibility — High school graduates
To be considered, high school applicants must meet all of the following:
1. Be admitted to a post‑secondary institution and meet the program’s required composite ACT score (SAT scores will be converted) in combination with the program’s minimum cumulative GPA as specified in the scholarship guidelines/materials.
2. Complete required coursework prior to high school graduation:
- Navajo Language: at least 1 unit of high school credit or 1+ college credit.
- Navajo Government: at least 0.5 unit of high school credit or 1+ college credit.
3. If Navajo Language or Navajo Government classes are unavailable at the applicant’s school, online options are permitted; any associated fees are the applicant’s responsibility and will not be paid by the Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance (ONNSFA).

Approved online/alternative options (applicant-paid)
- Rosetta Stone Navajo Language Exam — Achieve an 85% or higher on the Navajo Language Renaissance (NLR) exam to satisfy the Navajo Language requirement. More information: www.NavajoLRExam.org.
- American Academy — Complete the appropriate American Academy coursework to meet the Navajo Language and/or Navajo Government requirement. More information: http://www.theamericanacademy.com.

Eligibility — Continuing undergraduates (the 24/3 rule)
Full‑time undergraduate students may also qualify if they meet the following:
- Have completed 24 semester credit hours of college‑level coursework (or the trimester/quarter equivalent).
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Note: Students pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), or certificate programs are ineligible, since the scholarship is restricted to college‑level degree coursework.

Application, renewal, and documentation
All deadlines and document submission rules are strictly enforced. Recipients must submit transcripts after every term and must reapply to ONNSFA each academic year; the Chief Manuelito Scholarship does not automatically renew.