Crownpoint, NM – The New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship is now available for students attending a tribal college or university in New Mexico after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham approved Senate Bill 407 on March 14 to assist with educational expenses for the students. Students who wish to take advantage of the scholarship must enroll within 16 months after graduating from high school under the scholarship’s criteria.

“This is a great opportunity for students to attend NTU and it benefits them more because they can get an education [at NTU] at a rate much lower than most colleges and universities in the state,” explained NTU President, Dr. Elmer J. Guy. “Expenses for attending college has increased over the years and students need all the financial assistance that is available to them. This will decrease some of those costs.”

Senate Bill 407 was sponsored by Senators Benny Shendo, Jr (D), John Pinto (D), Jacob Candelaria (D), and Elizabeth Stefanics (D) and voted in at the New Mexico Senate 36-5-1 during the legislative day on February 26. Prior to the amendment being passed, students attending tribal colleges and universities in New Mexico were not eligible to receive the lottery scholarship.

The scholarship awards eligible students $1,020.00 per semester up to seven semesters or until the student graduates with a bachelor’s degree, whichever is sooner. The student must also have graduated from an accredited New Mexico high school or earned high school credits while maintaining residency in the state.

Navajo Technical University operates three locations in New Mexico, Bond Wilson Technical Center in Kirtland, the Pueblo of Zuni instructional site at the A:Shiwi College & Readiness Center, and the main campus in Crownpoint. To learn more about the programs and scholarships available for students at NTU, visit navajotech.edu or call (505) 786-4100.