Congratulations to the 2006 Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund Recipients!

2006 Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund Recipients and Accenture professionals in front of the Capitol For the second year, Accenture has partnered with the American Indian Graduate Center to bring the Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund to Indian Country. This year more than 140 students applied to the scholarship program, which seeks the brightest American Indian and Alaska Native students. Applicants were evaluated based on academic excellence, demonstrated leadership ability, commitment to preserving and giving back to their American Indian communities and proof of enrollment in a federally recognized American Indian/Alaskan Native tribe. Six Accenture Scholars will receive undergraduate scholarships toward completing four-year baccalaureate degrees: Laura J. Graveley, (Muscogee) of Okmulgee, OK, will attend Stanford University Nolan Smith-Kaprosey, (Bay Mills Chippewa) of Fort Snelling, MN, will attend Yale University Gary L. Richards Jr., (Oglala Lakota Sioux) of Pine Ridge, SD, will attend Creighton University Brittnea S. Nemecek, (Choctaw) of Durant, OK, will attend East Central University Jana V. Lekanoff, (Qawalangin) of Unalaska, AK, will attend Cornell University Terra L. Branson, (Muscogee) of Okmulgee, OK, will attend Dartmouth College Four Accenture Fellows will receive graduate scholarships towards completing advanced or professional degrees: Jon P. Swan, (Chippewa-Cree Rocky Boy’s) of Box Elder, MT, will attend the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Jay H. Calhoun, (Cherokee) of Tahlequah, OK, will attend Dartmouth College Jeri A. Azure, (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) of Belcourt, ND, will attend the University of North Dakota Dana R. Arviso, (Navajo) of Fort Defiance, AZ, will attend the University of Washington In addition to the scholarships, these recipients will be eligible for summer internships with Accenture as first-year graduate students or junior-year undergraduate students. The students were recently honored at a celebration event held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington DC. The day was filled with interactive dialogue between the students and distinguished guest speakers from Accenture, NMAI and Congress, including U.S. Rep Norm Dicks from the State of Washington and U.S. Rep Dan Boren from the State of Oklahoma. Each scholarship recipient was honored with a traditional Chief Joseph style Pendleton blanket in recognition of their achievement as an Accenture American Indian Scholar for 2006 and future potential as American Indian leaders. The Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund is one part of Accenture's commitment to the American Indian community in the United States and part of its global corporate citizenship program. Accenture's American Indian Scholarship Fund was created in September 2004, at the same time that Accenture supported the opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Accenture acts as a management consultant and information technology services advisor to the Museum.