The Nizhoni Academy is a four-week summer residential program that emphasizes rigorous Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) academic preparation for Native American high school students, providing a clear understanding of the demands of collegiate studies and the academic study skills required for successful transition from high school to higher education. The program is designed to encourage Native American students to prepare for and succeed at a post-secondary educational institution, as well as returning students to their respective high schools, communities, and tribes with greater confidence, self-esteem, cultural knowledge, and aspirations. The population targeted for the Nizhoni Academy are Native American high school students in the ninth or tenth grade with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and who have taken Algebra 1.