FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 3, 2026

Contact: Dr. Amanda Flaugher, Dean of Student Services

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

5805 E. Pickard St. Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

Email: aflaugher@sagchip.edu

SCTC Secures Grant Renewal to Expand "Nanda-Gikendan" Adult Education Program

with Focus on Cultural Math Modules and Mentorship

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.— Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College (SCTC) is honored to

announce a $45,000 grant renewal from the American Indian College Fund’s Native Students

Stepping Forward: Dollar General Adult Education Program. This vital funding, generously

sustained by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, will allow SCTC to deepen and expand its

community-centered adult education project, Nanda-Gikendan (Seek to Learn), for the 2026

2027 academic term.

Building directly upon the foundations laid in previous terms, this renewal shifts the program

from a maintenance-focused approach to a dynamic model designed to measurably boost student

retention and High School Equivalency (HSE) graduation rates. Over the new grant term, which

runs through June 30, 2027, SCTC will continue utilizing the Seven Grandfather Teachings as an

active operational and evaluation framework to holistically nurture adult learners.

"This grant renewal empowers us to evolve our support systems and address the real-world

obstacles our students face," said Dr. Amanda Flaugher, "By continuing to weave traditional

Anishinaabe storytelling, local history, and Indigenous pedagogy into core subjects, we are

breaking historical educational barriers and honoring our community's worldview as a tool for

contemporary academic mastery."

Key initiatives funded under this renewed cycle include:

• Contextualized Math Learning: Partnering with SCTC faculty to co-design and deliver

two distinct, culturally tailored mathematics tracks to reduce academic anxiety and

accelerate student self-efficacy.

• "Teachings in Practice" Mentorship: Expanding community-driven support by

engaging five Tribal leaders or local professionals to conduct monthly motivational

circles, aiming to lower student drop-out rates by 15% year-over-year.

• Pre-College & Workforce Bridging: Launching a new 6-week "Pre-College"

introductory module to introduce advanced learners to collegiate digital platforms,

alongside formalized institutional bridge policies with SCTC's Student Services, Land

Grant and Academic programs. 

The Nanda-Gikendan project continues under the direction of Project Administrator Dr. Amanda

Flaugher, Dean of Student Services, with key support from HSE Program Tutor Lori Vincent and

Student Services Assistant Millie Thomas. Beyond core academic instruction, the renewed

funding extends to community open houses, career transition fairs, and intensive test-preparation

bootcamps. Additionally, the program will provide essential student resources—including bus

passes and daily nutritional support—to enhance classroom engagement, foster well-being, and

alleviate common structural and transportation barriers.

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About Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Founded in 1998, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College is a tribally controlled institution of higher

learning located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. SCTC provides culturally relevant, high-quality

educational opportunities for Indigenous and local students, fostering lifelong learning,

leadership, and community development.

About the American Indian College Fund

The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native 

higher education for 35 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and 

provided more than $23 million in scholarships and other student support for higher education in 

2024-25. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $391 million in 

scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a 

variety of programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are 

located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed 

in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity 

evaluators. It earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Platinum Seal of Transparency 

from Candid (formerly Guidestar), and the “Best in America Seal of Excellence” from the 

Independent Charities of America. The College Fund was also named as one of the nation’s top 

100 charities to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about 

the American Indian College Fund, please visit collegefund.org