Indigenous Pathways Program 2026
Summer Program for Native High School Students
The Indigenous Pathways Program invites Native High School Students to experience and learn more about the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Program dates: June 21 – 25, 2026.
A few spots are still available! Registration extended to May 11, 2026
The program introduces participants to university life and academic study. Students explore campus, learn about college life at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and connect with mentors who provide guidance on academics, undergraduate research opportunities, and preparation for the college application process.
The program is open to students:
- From any federally recognized tribe
- Entering grades 10 through 12 in the Fall of 2026
For more information, contact Native Affairs Program Coordinator Jenna Wombles at jwombles@illinois.edu or 217-300-9580.
Experience Life on a College Campus
Indigenous Pathways is designed to enhance the college-going experience by familiarizing students with campus life, introducing different fields of study, and providing insights into the application and admissions process.
Students will gain valuable insights into the college experience, including what to expect and how to navigate their new environment. Activities will include living in a residence hall, exploring cultural and resource centers, and building meaningful communities and networks.
During the program, students will stay overnight on campus in a university residence hall with a University of Illinois student staff member on site. Housing and accommodations costs are covered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Summer 2026 Highligths
The Story of Wassaja: The First Native Alumnus of the University of Illinois with Native American House
In 1880, Carlos “Wassaja” Montezuma (Yavapai) became the first known Native alumnus of what is now the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In this session, you will view a short documentary about Wassaja’s life journey and then join a guided conversation led by Jamie Singson (Yaqui/Filipino). Together, we will reflect on what being “the first” can mean for you as Native high school students preparing for college, as emerging leaders, and as pathmakers for your families and communities.
Students will also hear brief reflections from David Eby (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), a graduate student in the School of Information Sciences, and recent Illinois graduate Yanaba Schroder (Navajo). They will share a first-time college experience with you and offer encouragement for your next moccasined steps.
What is a Heritage Language, and How Does it Live in the Mind?
Join Danny Meléndez, PhD candidate in Spanish linguistics, for an interactive and hands-on workshop exploring heritage languages (e.g., languages spoken at home or passed down through family and /or community). Attendees will gain knowledge on how societal dynamics shape the languages one speaks; reflect on the importance of preserving heritage languages; explore how researchers study the role of heritage languages in the mind using tools like eye-tracking, word recognition tasks, or surveys; and design their own mini research project focused on a heritage language. By the end of the session, students will better understand how a heritage language connects to identity, memory, and culture—and how their own linguistic background can be a powerful tool for learning, identity, and even research.
Navigating the College Application Journey
Undergraduate Admissions will host an interactive session where participants will learn about the college application process, explore how their interests align with potential majors, and gain valuable insight from staff and current students to help them prepare for applying to college.
Writing Standout College Application Essays with the Writers Workshop
The college application essay invites students to showcase their unique voices and experiences, but many students find writing the essay to be one of the most challenging components of preparing college applications. On Day 1, the Writers Workshop will provide strategies for writing a memorable application essay. We will discuss the essay’s purpose and audience, effective approaches, and sample essays. On Day 2, you will have an opportunity to brainstorm, develop, and revise a plan for your own essay.
Stitching Stories: Art, Identity, and Making
Students will tour the Krannert Art Museum galleries, paying particular attention to the Memorias de la Mujer Lotina: Apilleras, Women, and Coal in Chile and Stitching Ecologies: Urbana Champaign Satellite Crochet Coral Reef exhibitions, followed by a chance to create their own knit or textile artworks.
Explore the College of ACES
Animal Sciences Department in collaboration with the Champaign County Humane Society (CCHS) is excited to host students to learn about CCHS internship opportunities, get a tour of the facility, participate in a Q&A/student panel, speak with current staff and engage with animal ambassadors. Dr. Amy Fischer from the Animal Sciences department will speak to you about her career and research trajectory and will be the lead host at CCHS.
Pathways to STEM
The Cancer Center at Illinois will be hosting the students alongside our other pathway programs for an Escape Room event at the Beckman Institute. Students will work together to solve cancer research-themed puzzles while learning more about teamwork, problem-solving, and pathways into STEM and cancer research.
Fractals in Motion – An Activity with Mechanical Science & Engineering
This activity explores fractals— self-similar patterns found in nature— by examining how they form through the phenomenon of viscous fingering, where a less viscous fluid pushes into a more viscous one, creating branching, finger-like patterns. Students model this phenomenon using fluids placed between acrylic sheets, then observe how properties like viscosity influence the resulting fractal designs. They compare results, connect their observations to natural systems and scientific concepts such as instability and pattern formation, and apply their understanding creatively by designing a fractal-based keychain.
Spurlock Museum Experience
Students will participate in an interactive museum tour and activities led by David Eby (Choctaw/Muscogee Creek), a PhD student in the School of Information Sciences. During the visit, they will explore the museum’s curation practices and cultural significance. They will also examine archival materials and gain insight into a variety of career paths within the museum field.
Every society needs educated people, but the primary responsibility of educated people is to bring wisdom back to the community and make it available to others so that the lives they are leading make sense.
Vine Deloria, Jr.
Travel to Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is readily accessible by car, plane, train, or bus. Participants in the Indigenous Pathways program can be reimbursed up to $500 in travel expenses incurred for attendance.
Expenses will be reimbursed after attending the program and require copies of receipts to be submitted along with basic personal information. Acceptable travel expenses include transportation services (airfare, train ticket, bus ticket, mileage, taxi/rideshare), lodging, and meals.
Expenses must incur while in route to or from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for the Indigenous Pathways program. Reimbursements are sent via USPS mail and usually arrive 3-4 weeks after all relevant information has been provided.
About the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sits on the traditional lands of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Piankashaw, Wea, Miami, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Chickasaw Nations and was founded in 1867 under the first Morrill Land-Grant Act. Since that time, the University of Illinois has grown into a world-class research institution and contains 16 schools and colleges and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 100 graduate and professional programs. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers scholarships for members of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, connected historically with the state of Illinois, as well as students who are not residents of the state of Illinois and are members of any of the Tribal Nations federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.