Purpose: The Mary Ciuniq Pete Legacy Scholarship was created to honor the legacy of late KuC director Mary Ciuniq Pete. The scholarship is housed at Bethel Community Services Foundation and was created in partnership with the leadership team from the UAF-Kuskokwim Campus and Mary’s partner, Hubert Angaiak. As the director of KuC and a leader in many other arenas, Mary was a fierce advocate for high-quality education, a healthy and thriving environment, and the safety of women and girls in Bethel and across Western Alaska.
The Mary Ciuniq Pete Legacy Scholarship scholarship supports KuC students with a preference given to students who are Alaska Native women. Mary deeply valued perseverance and retention. To encourage retention, the scholarship will only be available to returning students (third semester and beyond; see qualifications section). Part-time and full-time students are eligible to apply. The award may be used for tuition OR other education-related expenses. The award will be paid to UAF-KuC.
Award: $1,000 will be awarded to three KuC students for the Fall 2024 semester. Past scholarship recipients are eligible to apply again for the scholarship.
Submission: Applications may be received by online submission, fax, mail, email, or dropoff by May 20, 2024 at 5:00 pm. Download the application in PDF format here or in Word format here to submit via fax, mail, email, or dropoff.
- Online: Web-based submittal form available below
- Fax: 907-543-1826; please call 543-1812 to ensure the fax is received by May 20 at 5 pm
- Mail: Applications must be POSTMARKED by May 20 at 5 pm. Please mail to: BCSF, PO Box 2189, Bethel, AK 99559
- Email: Applications may be emailed to michelle@bcsfoundation.org by May 20 at 5 pm
- Dropoff: Applications may be dropped off by May 20 at 5 pm at the BCSF office, located at 1795 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway in Bethel. There is a drop box on the porch if the office is closed or unoccupied
Qualification Requirements:
- Applicant must submit all required documentation listed on checklist (located at end of application).
- Applicant must have completed at least two (2) semesters for a minimum of six (6) credit hours of course work at the UAF-Kuskokwim Campus per number (3) below. Applicant must carry a minimum of three (3) credit hours per semester to be eligible.
- Applicant must be a KuC student or a student enrolled in a course located at the Kuskokwim Campus. This includes YK village-based students enrolled in a distance course. These can be graduate or undergraduate courses.
- Applicant must submit all college transcripts.
- Applicant must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 to qualify.
- Applicant must submit a personal statement (see below).
Qualification Preferences: Preference will be given to Alaska Native women from or residing in a rural community in Western Alaska.
Please contact Michelle DeWitt at 907-543-1812 or michelle@bcsfoundation.org with any application eligibility questions.
Click here for:
Fall 2024 Scholarship Application
2020 Mary Ciuniq Pete Legacy Scholarships Awarded to Kailyn RubyAnn Anvil and Brittney Boney, both of Bethel
Kailyn RubyAnn Anvil of Bethel is enrolled in the Nursing associate degree program at University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) while also pursuing her bachelor’s of Elementary Education at University of Alaska Fairbanks- both at the Kuskokwim Campus.
Said Anvil, “To receive a scholarship in [Mary Ciuniq Pete’s] name is a very deep honor. I hope to use this scholarship to further my education so that I can also make a positive impact in the community— striving to encourage learning and cultural appreciation as KuC and Mary Pete have done for me.”
Brittney Boney of Bethel is also working towards her Nursing associate degree through UAA at the Kuskokwim Campus.
“I am very honored to be a recipient of the Mary Ciuniq Pete scholarship this year. I can’t wait to give back to my community that has supported my journey through nursing school.”
2019 Mary Ciuniq Pete Legacy Scholarship Awarded to Janice Wiseman of Tuntutuliak
Janice Wiseman of Tuntutuliak is the recipient of the first annual Mary Ciuniq Pete Legacy Scholarship. Wiseman is the bookkeeper at Qinarmiut Corporation in Tuntutuliak. She is pursuing an associate’s degree at the Kuskokwim Campus in accounting.
“It is never too late to reach out for your dreams and never give up because things got tough in life,” Wiseman said. She shared that she is “grateful and honored to be receiving this scholarship.”
