Wick R. Miller Endowed Scholarship
Eligibility:
Any University of Utah student with an expressed interest in studies related to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, a demonstrated desire to preserve, cultivate, and advance any indigenous language or culture of the Americas. Preference will be given to enrolled members of federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes.
The Wick R. Miller Endowed Scholarship was established in honor of Wick R. Miller, a widely respected anthropological linguist who specialized in the study of indigenous languages of the western United States and northwest Mexico and was also a pioneer in the study of first language acquisition.
The recipient will receive $1,000 per semester (spring and fall) for a total of $2,000 which will be applied to the student’s tuition bill first. Any remaining amount will be refunded to the student. The recipient must maintain full-time student status during the year of the award.
Each undergraduate or graduate scholarship will be awarded for one year. Scholars may reapply for the possibility of renewal for a second year for a two-year maximum term, as long as the student remains in good standing as determined by his/her academic department and remains in the program for which the scholarship was awarded. Students who have held an undergraduate Wick R. Miller Endowed Scholarship are eligible to apply for the scholarship as a graduate student but will receive no special preference.
Due May 31, 2025
Apply to the Wick R. Miller Endowed Scholarship
Documents needed for application:
- A curriculum vita or resume
- A statement in no more than 300 words of general activities, intellectual interest, proposed course of study, academic achievements, and leadership experiences; including a statement of educational and professional goals and how the applicant plans to attain them. Also indicate graduate or undergraduate intention and the department or program of study.
- One letter of recommendation, preferably from faculty who can comment on your academic ability and performance.
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Audit from My Degree Dashboard or university transcripts. (Incoming freshmen should submit high school transcripts)
Awardees will be notified via email after July, 1, 2025
If you have any questions, you can email Michelle or call her at 801-581-7611.
Current and Past Scholarship Awardee
Jessica Holiday is from Monument Valley, Utah, situated on the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation. Her maternal clan is Táchii’nii (Red Running into the Water People), her paternal clan is Lókaa’ Diné (Reed People), her maternal grandfather’s ancestry is Swedish, English, and German, and her paternal grandfather’s clan is Todích'íí'nii (Bitter Water). She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
Jessica graduated from Arizona State University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Development and a Minor in American Indian Studies. She also graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts in 2021. She is currently a second-year PhD student in the Writing and Rhetoric Studies program and is also a Graduate Teaching Assistant who teaches First-Year Writing courses at the University of Utah.
Jessica’s research focus is on Bears Ears National Monument and tribal sovereignty. Her research aims to bolster the Indigenous perspective of this sacred area.
I am currently a junior at the University of Utah, majoring in Criminology with a minor in Political Science. My ultimate goal is to become a Native American lawyer, advocating for and supporting Indigenous communities. Alongside being a part-time student, I work at the American West Center, where I help document Native American oral histories—an experience that has further deepened my passion for preserving and uplifting our stories. Beyond my academic and professional commitments, I stay engaged with Native communities in and around Utah. Each summer, I work with Native youth visiting the University of Utah, leading workshops and activities that encourage them to explore opportunities beyond their reservations. These experiences are among the most rewarding parts of my journey.
