The Office of Interior Affairs is supporting insular area students through the Close-Up and Junior State Foundation programs.
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs confirmed $1,499,430 in fiscal year 2022 Technical Assistance Program grant funding to the two civic engagement and education programs. According to a June 1 news release, $1 million has been given to the Close-Up Foundation and $499,430 has been given to the Junior State Foundation.
“The educational opportunities provided by both Close-Up and Junior State Foundation are undeniable, and thanks to funding made available by Congress, students from the insular areas will once again be able take full advantage of these unique learning programs," Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Keone Nakoa said in the release.
Additionally, the OIA confirmed $174,900 in funding for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, according to a May 26 news release. These funds are for membership fees for the benefit of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau.
"For the past three decades, Interior has supported over 10,000 students and teachers from the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands and from the freely associated states which are the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau to take part in Junior State Foundation and Close-up Foundation student exchange programs," the June 1 release reported.
