INSPIRE Program


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The INSPIRE Pre-College Program is an opportunity for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian high school students to attend a summer session on the George Washington University campus learning about the federal trust relationship between tribal governments and the United States, tribal sovereignty, the bill of rights, treaties, and the U.S. Constitution. Students have extensive opportunities to interact with decision-makers in national policy and with leaders of Native American advocacy organizations.

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buff line decorative elementProgram at a Glance

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Undergraduate Credit

INSPIRE is a three-week program centering on a full day, experiential undergraduate course, “Native Politics and the American Political System."

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Summer Program

The three-week summer program is offered through George Washington University, located in Washington, D.C. 

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Meet Native
Decision-Makers

Students have the opportunity to meet and interview influential Native advocates working in Washington, DC.

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Research Projects

INSPIRE students work on individual and group research projects that focus on important local and national Native issues.

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Deadline: March 1, 2019

Summer 2019 Program Dates:
June 30-July 19, 2019

buff line decorative elementAbout INSPIRE

The INSPIRE Pre-College Program is a full scholarship open to Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian rising junior and senior high school students, including 2019 anticipated graduates.

INSPIRE is a three-week program centering on a full-day, experiential undergraduate course, “Native Politics and the American Political System,” which provides Native high school students the opportunity to meet and interview influential Native advocates working in Washington, DC.

In addition to the daily meetings and class lectures, the INSPIRE students work on individual and group research projects that focus on important local and national Native issues.

At the conclusion of the program, students submit their policy memos and make a ten-minute presentation on the topic of their research projects.

INSPIRE funding was made possible from generous contributions from AT&T and grants from the AT&T Foundation.

  • INSPIRE scholarships are awarded to students based on academic ability, leadership potential, and an interest in politics.
  • Students from all tribes and from every part of the United States are welcome to apply.
  • There is no application fee for applying to INSPIRE.

  • One course in Native Politics and the American Political Systems (3 undergraduate credit hours)

  • Room and board at GW

  • Airfare to and from Washington, D.C. (one round-trip ticket)

  • All required textbooks

  • Required local travel related to the course

buff line decorative elementFaculty

Dr. Waz

Dr. Waziyatawin,
INSPIRE Program Director

Dr. Waziyatawin is a Dakota writer, teacher, and activist from the Pezihutazizi Otunwe (Yellow Medicine Village) in southwestern Minnesota.  She earned her Ph.D. in American History from Cornell University and has held tenured positions at Arizona State University and the University of Victoria where she also served as the Indigenous Peoples Research Chair in the Indigenous Governance Program. Currently, Waziyatawin is executive director of the Dakota nonprofit Makoce Ikikcupi, a reparative justice project supporting Dakota reclamation of homeland. 

Former Faculty members: 

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