Choctaw Nation nonprofit continues to help tribal members achieve higher education goals

At the 2024 Chahta Foundation scholarship banquets held at the Choctaw Cultural Center, 177 Choctaw students were awarded 1.8 million scholarship dollars.

The Chahta Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the Choctaw Nation, working to empower the next generation of Choctaw students through education.

The Chahta Foundation has helped Choctaw students achieve their higher education goals since 2011.

It offers competitive scholarships that help fund the Choctaw recipients’ educational dreams. While these students and scholarships are the foundation’s focus, the Chahta spirit remains the driving force behind the foundation.

Photo by Christian Toews

The Scott family sings Choctaw Hymns at the opening of the August 16 Chahta Foundation’s awards banquet at the Cultural Center in Durant, Oklahoma.

Photo by Christian Toews

Executive Director of the Chahta Foundation, Angela Palmer, addresses the crowd at the Chahta Foundation Award Ceremony.

“All of our scholarships are funded through donations from people all over the country, including CNO employees who can donate through payroll deductions,” said Angela Palmer, the Executive Director of the Chahta Foundation.

Individual generosity is essential to funding, and the Choctaw Nation encourages it by matching each donation dollar for dollar.

“CNO also matches all donations received, so donor impact is doubled. They also donate so that our administrative costs are all covered,” said Palmer. “Ensuring that 100% of all donor gifts go to their intended purpose, making our nonprofit unique.”

Kinsley Scrivner is one of this year’s scholarship recipients, opening new doors for her educational journey.
“I had received my NSU scholarship, which lacked around $2,500 a year. I applied for the Chahta Foundation scholarship, and it was the perfect amount to cover the rest,” said Scrivener.

According to Scrivener, The Chahta Foundation scholarship helped her decide which school to attend.
“I’m really thankful that it definitely allowed me to narrow down that NSU is definitely where I want to go,” she said.

This year, the Chahta Foundation handed out the most scholarships to date, requiring two separate banquets — primarily because one Choctaw family donated 56 scholarships alone.

The Taylor Family wanted to give back to the Choctaw Nation to honor their son, Dr. Ryan Lee Taylor. They worked with the Chahta Foundation to establish four different scholarships.

The Ryan Taylor Memorial Scholarship directly benefits medical students; Heritage and Healing, honoring Dr. Ryan Taylor, helps nursing students; the Joe Taylor Trades Scholarship assists those going to learn a skilled trade; and the Taylor Family Scholarship for first-generation students seeking an associate degree.

“I had no idea how much their family would impact my life. Working with Carolyn over the last year, for me, has been a master class in love and honor,” Palmer said during her opening remarks at the second scholarship banquet.

Joe and Carolyn Taylor were not able to attend the banquet, but they sent a letter that was read during the ceremony.

The letter read as follows, “During his medical career, he saved and invested his money for his retirement, and you are all the recipients of his years of dedication and savings.

And to honor our son Ryan Lee Taylor, we expect you all to study diligently, complete the degrees in your chosen field and then maximize your potential, doing your best to honor the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Taylor Family.”