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JUNEAU - Sealaska Heritage Institute has awarded approximately $446,000 in scholarships to Sealaska shareholders and descendants.

The awards, funded by Sealaska Corporation, will help students pursuing graduate and undergraduate degrees and voc-tech training for the 2009-2010 school year. A portion also will fund heritage studies, language studies and culture camps.

The scholarships for university and voc-tech studies went to 337 Alaska Natives, said Rosita Worl, president of SHI, which administers the scholarship program for Sealaska. Additional scholarships will go to approximately 160 people for Northwest Coast Design workshops, basketball camps that incorporate Native language training, teacher workshops and performing arts studies.

One significant trend is the growing number of awards going to students pursuing master's degrees and Ph.D.s, said SHI President Rosita Worl.

"We're growing a pool of professionals. These people are going to be our doctors, lawyers, scientists and scholars," said Worl, noting only a few went out to graduate students in past years compared to 30 awards this year.

Sealaska Corp. is an Alaska Native corporation formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, a settlement of all aboriginal claims within the state of Alaska between Alaska Natives and the federal government. Scholarships are provided by Sealaska from a scholarship endowment and corporate 7 (i) sharing provisions established under ANCSA. Sealaska founded the nonprofit Sealaska Heritage Institute in 1980 to run the corporation's cultural and educational programs. The scholarship program is one of many programs operated by the institute. The scholarships are given annually, and the total award is based partly on income earned from the endowment.