News

NEO Welcomes University of Illinois Transfer Admissions Coordinator as Part of a Unique Partnership Holly Herrera, Transfer Admissions Coordinator from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) visited Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College’s (NEO) campus on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. During the 2014 summer, Peoria Chief John Froman invited NEO to enter into a triangular partnership with the university and tribe based upon his belief that the college has proven successful in meeting the needs of American Indian students.

UIUC is offering full tuition scholarship covering up to three years of study for American Indian students with preference given to students of tribes forcibly removed from Illinois. The scholarships resulted from the Peoria Tribe of Indians and Illinois officials’ shared efforts to increase educational attainment. The Peoria Tribe is headquartered in Miami, along with other tribes that were removed from Illinois by the Indian Relocation Act including the Miami, Ottawa, Shawnee and Wyandotte tribes.

Joining Mrs. Herrera was NEO’s past recipients of the scholarship: PJ Attocknie and Kolton Kitterman. Herrera, Attocknie, and Kitterman answered questions students had about the program. Tuition costs vary by program and course delivery format, but the base rate for out-of-state students is $30,796. Additionally, the Chancellor’s Scholarship may be added to help cover housing for students with unmet financial need. Up to five scholarships will be awarded annually in future years, and the university plans to actively recruit students from NEO.