Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship 2011 – 2012

Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

2011 – 2012

 Introduction

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an African-American clergyman and civil rights leader, was born in 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia.  He was an active Baptist minister and a moving orator, who gained national prominence by advocating passive resistance to segregation and leading a year-long boycott (1955-56) against the segregated bus lines in Montgomery, Alabama.  He subsequently set up the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as a base for nonviolent marches, protests, and demonstrations for black rights, such as the 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 voter registration drive in Selma, Alabama.  King was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.  In the late 1960's, he intensified his opposition to the war in Vietnam and to economic discrimination.  In 1968, while planning a multiracial Poor People's March for antipoverty legislation, he was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee.             

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship program was established in 1985 at UIC to encourage African-American, Latino(a), and Native-American UIC students who have demonstrated high academic achievement in the many fields where they have traditionally been underrepresented and who have shown commitment through community and campus service.  Thus, in an effort to keep Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.'s dream alive, these meritorious and/or monetary awards are given to undergraduates with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, as well as to graduate and professional students with high academic achievement. 

Fifteen $2,000 undergraduate scholarships, five $5,000 graduate fellowships, and five $5,000 professional fellowships will be awarded for the 2011 - 2012 academic year.  Selection will be based on academic record, personal statement, recommendations, and demonstrated commitment to community/campus service.  Scholarships will be awarded based on the applicant’s academic level during the 2011 – 2012 academic year.

1. Eligibility

A.      Continuing UIC African-American, Latino(a), or Native-American undergraduate students who have a current cumulative UIC GPA of at least a 3.0 (4.0 scale) and will achieve JUNIOR or SENIOR status in the Fall of 2011 are eligible to apply.

* Transfer students must have completed at least one semester at UIC before applying for the scholarship.

B.      African-American, Latino(a) or Native-American graduate or professional students who have demonstrated high academic achievement.

* Graduate and professional students must have completed at least one semester at UIC before applying for the

   scholarship.

C.      Applicant MUST plan to be enrolled as a junior, senior, graduate or professional full-time student at UIC                                    during the entire 2011 - 2012 academic year.

D.      Present or past holders of graduate and professional MLK Scholarships are NOT ELIGIBLE.  However, present or past holders of undergraduate MLK Scholarships MAY reapply. 

E.       Applicants must be citizens or eligible non-citizens as defined by the federal government.  For more specific information, visit https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1112/help/fotw15a.htm. 

F.       Full or part-time UIC Employees are NOT ELIGIBLE.  Student workers and graduate   assistants  ARE ELIGIBLE.

              G.      This award may impact your other campus-based financial aid.  Consultation with the Financial Aid   Office will be done prior to the distribution of any monetary award.  

2. Application Procedure

     An official application PACKET must be completed and submitted by the student no later   than Friday, April 1, 2011.  The completed application packet consists of:

A.  A typed or neatly printed Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Application form.

B.   A personal statement of 300 words or less.

C.   Two letters of recommendation must be included with packet.

D.  An unofficial UIC transcript will be obtained by the Selection Committee on behalf of applicants.  

     Nursing and medical students must indicate their campus location (Chicago, Rockford, Peoria or Urbana-             Champaign).

3. General Instructions

A. The personal statement must include information about the applicant's career objectives, plans for graduate or professional study, and community/campus service activities.

B. One of the two letters of recommendation MUST be from a faculty member who has taught the student in the classroom and/or laboratory setting, and can assess the student's potential for graduate study.

C.  Applicants authorize the release of their academic record by completing this application and signing

      their statement.  The Selection Committee will print an unofficial transcript to be used in evaluating

      this application.

D.  All application materials must be submitted to:

Andrés Garza, Chair

Martin Luther King Scholarship Selection Committee

Career Services, 3050 SSB, MC 099

1200 West Harrison Street

Chicago, Illinois  60607

E.   Please note that incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

 DEADLINE:   FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011

F.  Recipients will be notified after July 1, 2011.

For further information, please feel free to contact the Chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Selection Committee:  Andrés Garza at (312) 996-2969 or agarza@uic.edu.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

2011 – 2012

Application Form

Please type or print neatly.

Personal Data                                                                                                                             UIC Net ID ________________@uic.edu

Name ________________________________________              UIN __ __   __ __ __ __ __ __ __

    

Address  __________________________________________________________________________                                                    

City ____________________________________________  State _______    Zip ________________                                              

Phone Number (        ) ____________________    Ethnic Origin ______________________________                                                  

U.S. Citizen? ______ YES       ______ NO         Eligible Non-Citizen? ______ YES       ______ NO

                 

Are you currently employed?    _______ YES       _______ NO

If YES:    _______ Full-Time    ______ Part-Time       Where? _________________________________                                                        

 Academic Data    

ACADEMIC PROGRAM for 2011-2012 academic year.  CIRCLE the level of study that applies.

Undergraduate	Junior	Senior
Graduate	Master’s	Ph.D.
Professional	1st Year	2nd Year	3rd year	4th Year +

                                                                                                                                                                     

Total Credit Hours Through Fall Semester 2010  ___________         GPA ___________

College ____________________________________    Major/Discipline _______________________

                                                                                                                                                                     

Degree expected _____________________________     Date Expected ________________________

        

(For Medical/Nursing students ONLY)

Campus Location:  Chicago_____          Urbana_____          Rockford_____          Peoria_____       

Campus Activities

In the following section, list significant campus activities, leadership roles and/or scholarships, especially           those relevant to your education or career plans.  Use additional paper if necessary.                          

ACTIVITY                                                                                   LOCATION                           DATE

                                                      

                                                                   

                                                                   

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS                                   LOCATION                           DATE

                                                                   

                                                                   

HONORS, AWARDS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

RECEIVED                                                                                   LOCATION                           DATE

                                                                   

                                                                   

Community Service Involvement

List significant community service activities, leadership roles, and awards, especially those relevant to             education or career plans.

ACTIVITY                                                                         LOCATION                           DATE

                                                      

                                                                   

                                                                   

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS                                    LOCATION                           DATE

                                                                   

                                                                   

HONORS AND AWARDS                                                          LOCATION                           DATE

                                                                   

Personal Statement

Include a typed personal statement, which describes your career objectives, plans for graduate or professional training, and community service involvement. Please feel free to address any unusual financial and/or personal circumstances in this statement.  Do not exceed a maximum of 300 words or include additional materials. Use additional paper if necessary.

 

Signature: _________________________________________             Date: