American Indian College Fund Establishes Scholarship to Honor Lifelong Advocate John Gritts

The four-year scholarship will support a student attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:28pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic Native American art object such as a pottery vessel, woven basket, or beaded necklace repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the honoring of Indigenous art and culture through an educational scholarship.A vibrant celebration of Indigenous art and culture, honoring the legacy of a lifelong advocate for Native education.Denver Today

The American Indian College Fund has launched the John Gritts Native Arts Memorial Scholarship to honor the legacy of John Gritts, a lifelong champion of Native education who passed away in 2025. The scholarship will provide $3,000 per year for four years to a student attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, who wishes to study art.

Why it matters

The scholarship aims to continue Gritts' work of supporting Native students and ensuring they have the resources to achieve their educational goals. As a former student and staff member at IAIA, Gritts was a passionate advocate for tribal colleges and universities and their role in empowering Native communities.

The details

The scholarship was established with the support of Gritts' wife, Page Lambert. Gritts, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, spent much of his career helping Native students navigate the college application process and reminding them that they belonged in higher education. He worked at the American Indian College Fund, where he was known for his steady, humble approach and for celebrating students' achievements, especially at graduation.

  • John Gritts passed away in October 2025.
  • The scholarship was launched in April 2026.

The players

John Gritts

A citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a lifelong advocate for Native education, who helped Native students get into college and succeed.

Page Lambert

The wife of John Gritts, who supported the establishment of the scholarship in his honor.

Cheryl Crazy Bull

The President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, which created the scholarship to continue Gritts' legacy.

Dr. Shelly C. Lowe

The President of the Institute of American Indian Arts, the tribal college where the scholarship recipient will study.

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)

A tribal college located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the scholarship recipient will study art.

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What they’re saying

“Having started my career at Black Hills State in the student services and financial aid field, you can't help but know and see what students need.”

— John Gritts

“I enjoyed hearing stories and learning how tribal colleges and universities were doing. To me, they just keep moving to the next level. They're cornerstones on the reservations… they do a wonderful job educating their students.”

— John Gritts

“The best time, of course, is graduation—whether at Black Hills State or at a TCU. When the students walk across the stage and then say thank you, that is all it takes. You cry like a baby.”

— John Gritts

“We are honored to remember John through supporting a student on their educational journey. We best honor his fierce advocacy for students by helping a student overcome financial barriers to achieving their college dreams, while also recognizing and honoring his artistic talents which he so generously shared to deepen that remembrance.”

— Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO, American Indian College Fund

“John Gritts devoted his life to expanding opportunity for Indigenous students, and his connection to the Institute of American Indian Arts—as a former student, staff member, and longtime supporter—remains a meaningful part of IAIA's history. We are deeply grateful to Page Lambert and the American Indian College Fund for establishing this scholarship in his honor. This gift will support an IAIA student in pursuing their creative and educational journey, while carrying forward John's enduring belief in the power of Indigenous education to transform lives and communities.”

— Dr. Shelly C. Lowe, President, Institute of American Indian Arts

What’s next

Applicants for the John Gritts Native Arts Memorial Scholarship should visit collegefund.org/scholarships to complete an online application for consideration.

The takeaway

This scholarship honors the legacy of a dedicated advocate for Native education, ensuring that his commitment to supporting Indigenous students and their creative pursuits will continue to make a difference at the Institute of American Indian Arts.