FORKS — About 100 Native American youths, young adults and tribal educational leaders from the tribes of the North Olympic Peninsula will gather today for a University of Washington Native Career Planning Day.
Members of the Makah, Quileute, Hoh, Quinault, Lower Elwha Klallam and the Jamestown S’Klallam tribes will take part in the event today from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1455 S. Forks Ave., said Ellen Matheny, Olympic National Resources Center director of education and outreach.
First-time event
It is a first-time event on the Peninsula, but the idea has been used in Eastern Washington, Matheny said.
Financial aid and academic counselors will provide information about applying to the university and the financial aid available to them as tribal members.
Representatives from 10 departments at the university, many of them also members of Native American tribes, will offer small group sessions to introduce their fields of study and careers, Matheny said.
The Native American community is traditionally underserved, Matheny said, and the university sees a use for the school’s West End center to help bring more students into higher education.
“It’s a clear priority for the university,” Matheny said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
