Sept 10-16: National Suicide Prevention Week

National Suicide Prevention Week is a time to educate and remove the stigma around discussion of suicide. If you or a loved one are struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can find help through these helplines.

suicide prevention helplines

Tribal Services

Muckleshoot Student Incentives & Rewards

Page last updated:
October 28, 2026
∙
10:04 am

Overview

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe believes:

  • Clearly defined performance expectations promote the success of all students as individuals.
  • All students can learn and reach their potential with encouragement and support.
  • Schools and the community should work together to provide students with positive reinforcement to encourage the attainment of individual educational goals.

Tribal members who meet the eligibility requirements will be supported to the greatest extent possible by the Tribe. Recognition is intended to be in the form of financial as well as non-financial rewards and Incentives to encourage tribal members to achieve the greatest success possible in their Pre-K- 12 education. This Program reflects lessons learned from other governments which have recognized that financial rewards make a difference in retention and completion success rates for students. See, State of Texas-Arlington School District ( High School Completion Program); United States, Department of Education ( Youth Build Grant Program which allows for stipends to be provided to youth in program who remain in school); City of New York- New York Public Schools ( combination of city and private funds pay students enrolled in incentive program who remain in school); and State of New Mexico( provides increasingly larger tuition forgiveness plan for state colleges and universities for each year in high school that students enrolled in the special program meet the benchmarks of the program).

Key Dates to Remember

Student Incentives - September 1st:

  • ‍‍Three months into the following school year: Applications for Student Incentives can be accepted for academic recognition for items that happened within that academic year.
  • Student Incentives can only be authorized to be awarded in the academic year in which they are earned and may not be awarded for academic achievements in prior years.

Clothing Vouchers

  • Spring Clothing Distribution: January 8th - February 28th‍
  • Fall Clothing Distribution: August 1st - September 30th

Services Provided

Attendance Reward

  • Incentive for those students who do not miss a full day of school.
    • Reward incentives periods for attendance are both Monthly and Quarterly
    • Must provide a copy of the school attendance record for one month or one quarter as appropriate for recognition.

Honors Reward

  • Incentive for students whose GPA is 3.0 or above.
    • Reward incentives periods for Honor Roll is Quarterly and Yearly
    • Must submit a copy of the grade report or card for the period for which honors is being claimed

Succeeding in School Reward

  • Incentive for students who received recognition from their school. (Examples are a letter or certificate from the teacher or other school official)
    • Succeeding in School can be utilized 10 times per school year.
    • Student must be nominated by a teacher, counselor or principal at the school at which the student is enrolled.
    • Must submit letter or certificate

School Letter Achievement

  • Lettermen’s Jacket
    • A copy of the award/recognition certificate

School Persistence Incentive

  • Incentive for students who successfully completed the 9th, 10th or 11th grade by obtaining all credits necessary.
    • Must provide proof of completion of 9th,10th and the 11th grade.
    • Obtained all credits needed

Special Occasion

  • Incentive for students to attend a school dance.
    • Must provide proof of event

Graduation Incentive

  • Incentive for graduating Kindergarten, Fifth Grade, Eighth Grade, and Twelfth Grade.
    • Graduation Incentive applies to graduating Kindergarten, Fifth Grade, Eighth Grade, and Twelfth Grade.
    • Must be scheduled to graduate (or receive certificate of completion) or be promoted from one of the following grades. School official signature is required for verification of anticipated graduation or promotion

High School Graduation Supplies

  • Graduating high school seniors are authorized a total award of up to $1000.00 to cover the cost of certain high school graduation expenses. In order to use this incentive, the application must include a receipt for the payment of the item being claimed, in which case a reimbursement check will be provided to the individual who made the payment.  A vendor’s invoice for the cost of the item may also be submitted, in which case a check will be made out to the vendor for the purchase of the item. The following items may be purchased through this incentive.
    • Cap, Gown, and tassel
    • Class Ring
    • Senior Pictures
    • Clothing for Graduation Day
    • Graduation Announcements

Senior Trip

  • The graduate is also eligible for a Senior Trip which does not expire.  The total amount of the trip incentive is not to exceed $6,282.00, which may be used for any of the following:
    • Two round-trip transportation tickets (for the graduate and a guest)
    • One-week hotel accommodations for the graduate
    • One week per diem for the graduate
    • Events, attractions, and activities
  • Graduation Trips are now $7,198.00 and there is no time frame required to take the trip.

HS21+ Graduation Supplies Incentive

  • HS21+ Graduating students are authorized a total of up to $1,000.00 to cover the cost of certain graduation supplies and expenses. In order to use this incentive, the application must include a receipt for the payment of the item being claimed, in which case a reimbursement check will be provided to the individual who made the payment.  A vendor’s invoice for the cost of the item may also be submitted, in which case a check will be made out to the vendor for the purchase of the item. The following items may be purchased through this incentive.
    • Cap, Gown, and tassel
    • Class Ring
    • Senior Pictures
    • Clothing for Graduation Day
    • Graduation Announcements

High School 21+ Program

  • Celebration Food Assistance $800 Same as 12th grade graduates

Clothing Voucher Program

  • The Clothing Program will provide up to $1,000 twice a year, to Tribally enrolled Muckleshoot students
  • Must be an enrolled Muckleshoot Tribal Member at the time of the distribution
  • Must be 21 years of age and under;
  • Parent/Guardian or Student 18 years or older (or 16 years or older if an emancipated minor) certifies the Student is enrolled in Birth to Three, Head Start, MCDC, primary school, secondary school, or is being home-schooled.

2025 Annual Report

Read about this program's achievements in the most recent Muckleshoot Annual Report.

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

2025 Annual Report

Contact Info

Person(s) in charge

Nina Heddrick, Student Incentives and Clothing Voucher Manager

visit

Philip Starr Administration Building
39015-A 172nd Ave SE
Auburn, WA 98092

2025 Annual Report

Read about this program's achievements in the most recent Muckleshoot Annual Report.

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

2025 Annual Report

Contact Info

Person(s) in charge

Firstname Lastname, Position

Supporting Staff

Firstname Last name, Position
firstlast@muckleshoot.nsn.us

Phone
Contact Phone 1
Contact Phone 2
Email
Contact Email 1
Contact Email 2
visit

Physical Address Rich Text

Line 2

Line 3

Contact Info

Person(s) in charge

Firstname Lastname, Position

Supporting Staff

Firstname Last name, Position
firstlast@muckleshoot.nsn.us

Phone
Contact Phone 1
Contact Phone 2
Email
Contact Email 1
Contact Email 2
visit

Physical Address Rich Text

Line 2

Line 3

Related Services

Department of Education Administration

The mission of the Muckleshoot Department of Education is to provide a seamless educational pathway from birth through higher education in which the culture, history and language of the Muckleshoot people is integrated into every aspect and level of the education system.

Learn More

Financial Aid & Scholarship Department

The Scholarship Program administers scholarship and assistance programs that make education funds available to enrolled Muckleshoot Tribal members. The Tribe views Scholarship funding as an investment in both individuals and in the continued sovereignty of the community.

Learn More

Muckleshoot Early Childhood Education Division

Our vision is that every Muckleshoot child has access to high-quality, early learning experiences. We strive to create an early childhood education program that effectively serves all children and supports children’s growth, development, and educational advancement.

Learn More

Muckleshoot Early Learning Academy (MELA) Head Start Program

The Early Learning Academy program delivers services for children and their families in the core areas of early learning, health, nutrition, safety and family well-being while engaging parents as the first educators for their children every step of the way.

Learn More