INSPIRE Pre-college Native American Political Leadership Scholarship Awarded

Joey Richard, son of Steven and Ann (Tipton) Richard of Glen Carbon, Illinois, has received a scholarship to the INSPIRE pre-college Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University, located in Washington D.C., this summer. INSPIRE scholarships are awarded to students based on evidence of academic ability, leadership potential, and an interest in public service.

The INSPIRE Pre-College Program is a full scholarship open to Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian rising junior and senior high school students, who apply and are selected to spend three weeks on the GWU campus learning about intergovernmental relations between tribal governments and the federal government. As a scholar at GWU, Joey will study the process and practice of democratic representation in the U.S., focusing on the interplay between tribal interests and politics and government at the national level. He will closely study how national politics in the electoral and legislative arenas work.

INSPIRE students live on campus and participate in recreational programs with the community of high school students enrolled in GWU Pre-College programs. INSPIRE is funded by a grant from AT&T Foundation.

The INSPIRE application was recently highlighted in the Delaware Indian News January 2015 issue and it was instrumental in Joey’s decision to apply.

Joey is a junior at Father McGivney Catholic High School, Maryville, Illinois. Joey carries a 3.92 GPA and is active in National Honor Society, student leadership, scholar bowl, math team, academic committee, yearbook, soccer, and band. He teaches kindergarten Sunday School and is an active member of the music ministry at St. Mary’s church in Edwardsville, Illinois. Joey worked as an intern on a recent political campaign. Joey is interested in pursuing a business or international relations degree in college and a possibly a law degree.

Joey is the grandson of the late Alice and Virgil E. (Son) Tipton Jr., Springfield, Illinois, great grandson of Lida W. (Woodall) and Virgil E. Tipton Sr., Afton, Oklahoma and is proudly descended from the Woodall, Marker, and Killbuck lines.