Jones-Bowman Award Guidelines and Eligibility

In 2008-09, the Jones-Bowman Fellowships will be awarded to undergraduate college and university Fellows who are enrolled members of EBCI.

Fellows will be chosen for their leadership potential.  The award will help Fellows develop leadership competencies by means of formal education and firsthand experiences in leadership environments.   Each year, each Fellow will develop a Leadership Learning Plan with an assigned mentor or Jones-Bowman coordinator.   The individually designed plans can include a variety of experiences.  Stipends could be used to cover the cost of special educational experiences, such as attendance at national or international conferences or training workshops.  Stipends could be used to provide summer income while a Fellow participates in community service or experiential learning activities.  Stipends could be used for special expenses not covered by scholarship funding. 

The sponsored activities will focus on leadership learning, Cherokee culture and community service.  Participation in the Jones-Bowman Program will require commitment to community service and time commitment in the summer months and on school breaks.  It is anticipated that Fellows will put their leadership skills to use in service to the WNC region following graduation.

The Awards will provide funding of approximately $4,000 each year. Awards will be renewable for up to four years.  It is expected that each Fellow will complete a two-year or four-year degree. 

The Jones-Bowman Fellowship Committee will select the Fellows on an annual basis.  Fellows will be expected to maintain a continuing commitment of financial resources and service to the Jones-Bowman Fellowship Program following completion of their degree.

A Jones-Bowman Award applicant must:

1. Be an enrolled member of the EBCI.
2. Be pursuing formal academic study, enrolled in at least six hours of study during each semester of the 2008-09 academic year or term.
3. Have an acceptance letter from the academic institution he or she will attend or, if a current student, provide a copy of the College or University transcript.

A Jones-Bowman Award applicant is encouraged to: 

1. Secure 1-3 letters of recommendation from members of the community who have knowledge of the applicant’s potential and capabilities.

Leadership Activities
Fellows shall participate in at least 40 hours of unpaid volunteer community service each year.  It is intended that in the first two years community service activities will take place in the Cherokee Preservation Foundation’s seven-county service area.  Community service activities will focus on serving others, in activities such as mentoring youth, helping and learning from elders, gathering and sharing knowledge, and participating in existing service programs.  Failure to complete community service obligations will jeopardize continued participation in the program.

In the first and second years, Fellows will work as a cohort in community service activities and leadership learning activities that focus on culturally based leadership learning.  Experiences may include special internships, summer programs, and work with adult mentors from the EBCI community or the Fellow’s chosen academic community.

Fellowship Requirements

1. Fellows will need to establish at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the first year of studies and maintain a 3.0 GPA for subsequent years. 
2. Each year, Fellows will write letters to the families of Chief Leon Jones and Mr. Jim Bowman to report on their studies and acknowledge the leadership contributions of Mr. Jones and Mr. Bowman.
3. Each Fellow must submit an official acceptance letter to the Fellowship Committee no later than July 11, 2008. 
4. Fellows will provide a copy of grades or transcript to the Jones-Bowman Committee within 60 days of the completion of each semester/quarter. 
5. Fellows will provide an accounting to the Jones-Bowman Committee on how the grant funding was spent within 60 days of the end of each semester.