Wahupa Educational Enterprises Inc. (dba Wahupa Educational Services) began in 1973 to help Native American high-school students obtain college educations. 

In 1979, Wahupa incorporated as a nonprofit expanding services to all low-income and first-generation high-schoolers seeking a college career.

The word “Wahupa” means enlightenment in the language of the Lakota Sioux.  As the organization has grown we felt that the message of enlightenment, the practice required to achieve it, the freedom it offers and the idea of lighting the way for students along their path to college all still accurately reflected our core mission. So, we kept it.

We are a 501c3 non-profit corporation with multiple TriO projects funded by U.S. Dept. of Education. The goal of our TRiO programs is "to increase the percentage of low-income and first generation college students who successfully pursue postsecondary education opportunities."