The new Four Directions scholarship is a full ride offered to first-year students who are members of federally recognized Native American Tribes.

Aside from the benefits of a full ride, Four Directions scholars are also given a native mentor on campus, priority admission and priority housing access for all four years. Additionally, scholars are required to complete 10 hours of community service to native communities each semester.

The movement toward the creation of the scholarship began around 2018 after the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes monument was built on campus.

“I think that really got people thinking, how could we be much more intentional about bringing in students to what it is that we’re doing?” said Jonathon Benjamin-Alvarado, senior advisor to the chancellor and chief inclusion officer.

Scholars are currently chosen by an admissions faculty selection committee; however, the Native and Indigenous Student Association is working to allow Native students on the selection committee.

Benjamin-Alvarado said he thinks that when the scholarship matures, they will begin initiatives to include students on the selection committee.

“Let’s say, for instance, we have a first-year student this year. By their senior year, they could serve on that committee. That would make great sense that they would be in the process because they have already gone through it,” Benjamin-Alvarado said.

With only 25 students who identify with federally recognized Native American tribes at TCU, their demographic is not served in the university-wide statistics.

Clayton Chiariello, a senior journalism major and member of the Cherokee Nation, has made his culture a pillar in his life, leading him to do work with NISA, as well as the Four Directions scholars.

Chiariello transferred from the University of Oklahoma, where their Native population and Native American Student Association participation are much larger. He noticed the lack of Native representation on TCU’s campus immediately.

Chiariello and his sister, Haylee Chiariello, have begun speaking at schools in the DFW area to educate students on indigenous history and culture.

Clayton said he feels that his work at TCU and within Native communities in the DFW metroplex is just about saying they belong.

“My goal on campus is to educate people that we are still here, we still belong and our culture is valid,” he said.

With TCU being one of the very few colleges in Texas with a scholarship of this kind, Chiariello and all members of NISA hope that this may remedy the low rate of Native American students at the university by offering a financial incentive.

The scholarship is currently held by two students, one male and one female. As Native application rates rise, TCU hopes to offer more scholarships. To TCU administration, the ideal number of scholars in the coming years is 10.

“My moonshot is that we would have 10 per year,” Benjamin-Alvarado said. “If we’re bringing in 10 high-profile, successful first-year students from across the nation representing tribal communities, everyone is going to know that.”

This scholarship is part of TCU’s broader efforts to promote diversity, inclusion and equity on campus. For Native students, it represents not only a chance to pursue higher education but also a platform to amplify their voices and preserve their heritage.

Both Chiariello and Benjamin-Alvarado expressed their thanks and respect for TCU’s continuous initiatives, the Four Directions Scholarship being one of the greatest, toward Native American and Indigenous inclusion on campus.