FARGO, N.D. (KFGO-AM) A charitable trust established by the late hotel and real estate baroness Leona Helmsley is giving North Dakota State University $750,000 to create an endowed scholarship fund for graduate students in American Indian public health.
The state of North Dakota is providing another $375,000 through its Higher Education Challenge Fund.
Officials say the NDSU master's program is the only one in the country designed specifically to prepare graduates to work with Native American populations. It will provide four scholarships of about $10,000 each year. The first scholarships will go out for the fall 2016 semester.
Program Director Donald Warne says it will help students financially and benefit underserved citizens. Shelley Stingley with The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust calls it a ``pioneering effort.''