Arizona Lottery and Northern Arizona University Partner to Support Higher Education

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (February 26, 2024) – The Arizona Lottery proudly announces $25,000 in funding to support Native and Indigenous students at Northern Arizona University. In partnership with the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Honors College, the Lottery will fully fund five students to participate in the Honors Native American Summer Research Program (HNASRP) in June 2024.

The NAU Honors College provides extraordinary academic opportunities for high-achieving students from all backgrounds and in all disciplines. It is especially dedicated to supporting the ambitions of students from Native and Indigenous communities. Established in 2022, HNASRP is designed to be a highly personalized and highly impactful program, providing access and opportunity for Indigenous students to succeed in higher education.

“Arizona Lottery is proud to back programs that support higher education within the state,” said Arizona Lottery CEO Alec Thomson. “NAU’s Honors Native American Summer Research Program shares this commitment by providing students invaluable opportunities to not just further their education, but to truly thrive.”

The program features a five-week living and learning research experience, faculty and peer mentorship, career and professional programming, and a final symposium and presentation of students’ work. Students who have completed this program have won national awards and recognition and are poised to enter top graduate and professional programs. These students are equipped to be future leaders of their Indigenous communities.

Hear from three HNASRP students about how this program has helped them move closer to their dreams by watching this video.

“The Honors Native American Summer Research Program is a unique opportunity that empowers students to gain tangible career experience while conducting research,” Honors College Dean Kevin Gustafson said. “Thanks to the Arizona Lottery and their gift, the next cohort of students will be financially supported while they embark on supervised research and strengthen their connections to their peers, Indigenous culture and NAU."

Supporting higher education is a central pillar of the Arizona Lottery’s mission with a portion of ticket sales generating more than $38 million for the University Bond Fund and Tribal College Dual Enrollment Fund last fiscal year. NAU shares this commitment, aiming to be the nation’s preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.

To learn more about Arizona Lottery Gives Back, please visit www.arizonalottery.com/givesback.

To learn more about the NAU HNASRP, please visit nau.edu/hnasrp