Frank Johnston, Jr. Memorial Youth Leadership Award/Scholarship
The Frank Johnston, Jr. Memorial Youth Leadership Award was created to honor a man who believed strongly in education, culture, and the importance of leadership. He placed the Lord first in his life's deliberations and had an undeniable love and admiration for his MOWA Choctaw people and all American Indians. Frank was a family member, friend, and mentor to so many. Those who receive this award are clear examples of community commitment, the pursuit of excellence, people who express pride in their Indian identity, and those who through a humble character show traits of leadership which inspire those with whom they come into contact. To qualify for this award one must be an enrolled member of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians or descendant of an enrolled member between the ages of 17-26 and be nominated by a community member(s) via email (helphaskell@hotmail.com) or be an enrolled member of any "non-federally" recognized tribe (recently federally recognized tribes in New York, Massachusetts and Virginia still qualify for this scholarship!) whose members previously attended a federal or closely related mission Indian boarding school between the ages of 17-26 and be nominated by one of your community members or a member of Phi Sigma Nu American Indian Fraternity (http://phisigmanu.com/) and be nominated by one of your fraternity brothers. A nomination letter via email is due September 1st of each year. Final submission and all accompanying paperwork is due by September 15th of each year via email only. No exceptions. The recipient(s) will receive an award of $1,000 and a certificate.
This scholarship is funded by the descendants of Jerome Chastang and Cornelia Weaver and James (Chastang) Chestang, Secelar Ray and Maud Ray England .
Past winners include:
2009- Randy Reed
2010- Jenny Snow Weaver, Tony Weaver, Joshua Taylor
2011- Meghan Harbuck
2012- Tiffany Stanley
2013- William Dean, Jr.
2014- Colby Dean
2015- Lorin Byrd, Daisy Snow
2016- Malorie Weaver, Candace Byrd
2017- Daniel Snow (Phi Sigma Nu), Phoenix Bills (Phi Sigma Nu), Jeffrey Trout (Phi Sigma Nu)
2018- Phi Sigma Nu American Indian Fraternity (St. Gregory's chapter)
2019- Adrianna Williams
2020- Celine Snow
2021- Kaylin Johnston
2022- Shelia Johnston, Denise Rodgers
2023- Adelyn Kirkwood
2024- Lauren Branham (Yuchi Nation)
Qualifications:
An initial nomination (letter) must be received by the award committee from a member of the MOWA Choctaw community who is not a parent or grandparent of the individual being nominated or from another historic "non-federal" boarding school attending tribe whose member is not a parent or grandparent of the nominee. Phi Sigma Nu members must be nominated by a Phi Sigma Nu fraternity brother. Please send to the Frank Johnston, Jr. Scholarship Committee by September 1st via email (helphaskell@hotmail.com) ALSO, the nominator must send a contact email & phone number of the individual they are nominating in the letter.. Upon receipt of such nomination the award committee will contact the nominee and inquire as to their want to apply for the award. If the nominated individual accepts the offer of application, they must then fulfill the following requirements and make a final submission by September 15th of all documentation via email only (helphaskell@hotmail.com):
1. Show evidence that they are a socially and culturally connected member of the MOWA Choctaw community or their other historic "non-federal" boarding school attending tribe or a member of Phi Sigma Nu American Indian fraternity. This should include descriptions of community involvement, tribal enrollment verification, proof of family tribal enrollment or Phi Sigma Nu fraternity membership.
2. All nominees must be between the ages of 17-26 and provide the following contact information:
a. Applicant name and name(s) of parent(s), grandparent(s) or others who have raised you.
b. Address (home and campus):
c. Home phone number:
d. Cell phone number:
e. Email address:
f. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter (X):
g. Current school activities (if applicable):
h. Year/semester/quarter in school (if applicable):
i. Are you a college graduate?
If yes, what degree(s) do you hold?
What university/college(s) did you graduate from?
3. All nominees must be currently enrolled in higher education or must have already obtained a higher education degree.
4. All nominees must submit all higher education transcripts or if a college/university freshman, must submit final high school transcript.
5. All nominees must submit two additional letters of recommendation from MOWA Choctaw community members, members of their respective historic "non-federal" Indian boarding school attending tribe or Phi Sigma Nu fraternity members which directly reference their impact on the MOWA Choctaw community, their historic "non-federal" tribe or Phi Sigma Nu fraternity. No letter of recommendation will be accepted from parents or grandparents of nominees.
6. Essay requirement:
Please write a one to two page essay on the history of your "non-federally" recognized tribe at the Indian Boarding schools. Please utilize the helphaskell.org website and any other sources you may be aware of to complete your essay.
7. All nominees must submit a recent photo of themselves.
The annual recipient will receive a certificate and a monetary award of $1,000. The recipient's names will also be on a permanent plaque displayed in the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Cultural Center & Museum.
REMEMBER!!
Initial nominations must be received no later than September 1st at 11:59pm. Send nomination letter via email. All applications must be received no later than September 15th at 11:59pm. Send all information via email only to: helphaskell@hotmail.com.
* Definition of MOWA Choctaw community member or historic "non-federal" Indian boarding school attending tribe for the purpose of nominating someone is any individual residing within these communities or an individual who has family members residing in the community who is either an enrolled member, descendant of an enrolled member, or member of a community resident household of any other tribe, race or ethnicity. Definition of Phi Sigma Nu member is one who is verifiable as a fraternity member.
