Education director reports record scholarship applications and summer youth programs

Aaron Emberton, executive director of education, told the council that higher-education scholarship applications closed June 30 and staff expect another record year of applications; he said final numbers will be reported next month.

"We did close our applications for the higher ed scholarships on June 30. We are looking at another, record year of as far as applications that have been, sent to us," Emberton said.

Emberton detailed summer youth activities, including a residential Camp Cherokee at Heart of the Hills scheduled June 27–31, and open archery days in Sallisaw and at the Veneta Archery Range (July 20 and July 24, respectively, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). He described the activities as informal ‘‘open shoots’’ intended to give students and citizens access to newly built archery ranges.

He also described cross-training efforts so department staff can better explain services at community events and said youth leadership and the Cherokee Nation Youth Choir recently represented the Nation at a regional event where the chief also spoke.

During questions, Councilor Danny Callison asked about progress on enrolling students in the OU nursing program; Emberton said the Cherokee Nation Foundation is coordinating enrollment steps and that the first-year coursework is expected to be online.