The idea for the Fool Soldier
Scholarship Fund began just as the first gathering of descendants
ended in 1996. As Dr. Paul Carpenter, Marcella LeBeau and
Karla Abbott talked over the celebration, Paul said "Marcella,
what a great feeling. How do we keep this going?" Without
batting an eye, Marcella responded: "Our youth need so much
help with education. Maybe we should start a scholarship."
Paul smiled right away and declared: " Yes! That's what we'll
do."
Karla
and Paul worked with the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation
(SFACF) to set up the Fund. Karla described the culture shock
and sense of unworthiness that Native students may experience
after leaving their reservation for college. She also talked
about struggling with the "hidden costs" of an education.
Being able to go home for a ceremony or funeral can be a burden
for Native American students. Often there is no money to return
to college and students have to drop out.
Over the last nine years
thirty-three individual students
have received scholarships.
Totaling $15,825.
Earning a Fool Soldier Scholarship
does two things:
First:The scholarship
renews pride in their ancestry as students write essays about
what being a Fool Soldier descendant means to them and how they
plan to live that out through college and career goals.
Second:The Scholarship
Fund was set up to defray the normal costs of college and once
those are met, assists with transportation and incidental living
expenses that can isolate Native students when they don't have
enough money.
Once tuition, books, room and board
are paid the scholarship helps with things like gas money to travel
home and back, internet access and being able to join other students
for pizza during late study nights.
Quote on the Fund:
"I am so proud of Ryman, my grandson, and proud of the fact
that the Fool Soldier Scholarship Fund was able to help him. I'm
very grateful for that." Marcella
LeBeau, great-granddaughter of Four Bear, one of the Fool Soldiers.
Currently the fund is earning enough to make two awards
annually at $500 each. Each year SFACF
reviews the fund to determine if the number and amount
of the awards can be increased.
Karla
and Paul worked with the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation
(SFACF) to set up the Fund. Karla described the culture shock
and sense of unworthiness that Native students may experience
after leaving their reservation for college. She also talked
about struggling with the "hidden costs" of an education.
Being able to go home for a ceremony or funeral can be a burden
for Native American students. Often there is no money to return
to college and students have to drop out. 
