Shirley
Crow
Little Big Horn College

Many people consider starting college later in life. In fact, amongst tribal college students, the average student is a 27-year-old single mother of three, and is often the first in her family to attend college. These students know that they will have to juggle many responsibilities: children, work, and studies, and sometimes there isn’t enough money to meet all of their obligations. That is where the American Indian College Fund can help.

Ninety-one percent of Fund scholarship recipients are "non-traditional" students— they have dependents, are older than 24, work full-time—or a combination of these characteristics. Shirley (Crow) isn’t just a statistic—her story shows us what a 30-year old single mother can achieve once she decides to make a better life for herself.

Shirley, a member of the Big Lodge Clan and child of the Bad War Deeds, was raised by her two grandparents on the Crow Indian reservation. She married young, had three children, and struggled in an abusive relationship with alcoholism. Her grandparents’ deaths were also difficult for her. When she turned 30, Shirley says she realized she had to be strong because she has no one else to depend upon. “I am a strong woman who is responsible and has gained independence for myself and for my children…now that my oldest daughter is 14 years old, I believe that I should become a positive role model for her in pursuing my education,” Shirley says.

Shirley is attending Little Big Horn College, where she is studying pre-nursing, and plans to transfer to Salish Kootenai College to earn her bachelor’s degree. Shirley is committed to success for herself and for her children. She has pledged to earn a 4.0 GPA and was awarded the Dave Rogers & Cargill extend Your Tribal Family scholarships in the amount of $1,250.

Shirley has proven that anything is possible at any stage of life if you are committed to yourself, your family, and your dreams. Congratulations, Shirley!