The Buffalo Bandits announced the return of the Native American Heritage Scholarship, which will be awarded on Native American Heritage Night presented by Seneca Resorts & Casinos on Friday, January 10, when the Bandits face the Toronto Rock.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be of Native American descent and residents of Western New York or Southern Ontario. To be considered, applicants must complete the application form found below, which requests a copy of their most recent transcripts, a letter of recommendation from a faculty sponsor or employer, and a one-page essay describing why they should be awarded the scholarship and what it would mean to them. The scholarship is only open to students currently enrolled at or accepted to an accredited college or university.
A selection committee composed of members of the Buffalo Bandits organization will choose the scholarship winner. The winner will then be notified by Wednesday, January 8, and expected to be available to accept the scholarship on Friday, January 10 at the Bandits’ game against the Toronto Rock at 7:30 p.m.
All applications must be submitted with all accompanying documentation no later than Wednesday, January 8.
Scholarship Amount: $1,000
PLEASE NOTE: If you are selected for the Native American Heritage Scholarship the check will not be mailed to you but mailed to your current institution.
If you have any questions please reach out to Scott Loffler at [email protected].
2025 Native American Heritage Scholarship Winners
Mavi Montour & Jillian Rea
Mavi Montour
Mavi Montour from Perrysburg, New York has been awarded the “Triple C” award by the New York State Attorney General’s Office and she studies studio arts and sculpture at the Institute of American Indian Arts, where she also won the “Outstanding Student Award” recently.
Jillian Rea
Jillian Rea from Salamanca, New York is a Division 1 Rugy player where she is also the president and founder of the Indigenous Student Confederacy. She is committed to both her studies and contributing to her community, majoring in accounting and minoring in Native American and Indigenous Studies.