As you gear up for #GivingTuesday this year, please consider making a donation to support the Caleb Scholars Program. We are a 501c3 program, your donation may be tax deductible. Our fundraising goal is $5,000 by the end of this year – enough to fund travel for each of our students to return to their home communities during the school year to engage in advocacy, participate in subsistence activities, and connect with their community as a way to supplement their iñua, spirit, and elevate their experience as they work towards obtaining their educational and professional goals.
When we invest in Alaskan Inuit, we encourage understanding of traditional knowledge and the benefits of sound science as the method for preserving our culture and environment.
One of Caleb’s goals was to assist Alaskan Inuit in pursuing degrees in fields related to conservation, responsible development, and the protection of subsistence rights and cultural heritage. Another goal was to increase the number and visibility of strong Alaskan Inuit leaders. Our program has helped with both goals. But there is more work to be done.
The Caleb Scholars Program honors his legacy and commitment by providing substantial financial support for Inuit scholars. However, the Caleb Scholars Program offers more than financial support. Through structured internships, our Scholars have worked at the forefront of change for Indigenous peoples. Through structured mentorship and community-building efforts, every Caleb Scholar has had the opportunity to feel academically, emotionally, and professionally supported.
Since the program’s inception, multiple Caleb Scholars have earned both their bachelor’s and their master’s degrees. In 2021—one decade after our program began—a Caleb Scholar from the Bering Straits region who started the program as an undergraduate in Chemistry and Biochemistry will earn their doctorate.
As a Caleb Scholar Alumna myself, I understand the impact this program has on emerging leaders from rural communities. Having access to travel funding enabled me to return home to participate in moose hunting with my family and engage with my community. Maintaining these connections was an integral part of my success as an Iñupiaq scholar. Taikuu, thank you for your support!
Denali Whiting
Caleb Scholars Program Director
