Scholarships | sdmlkjrfoundation

Rev. George Walker Smith

Scholarship Award $7,500

San Diego Civic Leader

George Walker Smith, the first African American ever elected to public office in San Diego, is a “Giant of a Man!” He has spent his entire life advocating for the success of our children not only in San Diego and California, but children all across this nation. As a member of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees, he fought tirelessly for our children. He took his commitment to a national level while serving as President of the National School Board Association. A retired educator and Pastor of the Christ United Church and a founding member of the San Diego Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation, the Foundation Board of Directors decided to name a scholarship in honor of his life-long legacy of advocating for the academic achievement of all children.

Tom Carter Scholarship Award $7,500

San Diego Business and Civic Leader

The late Tom Carter was a respected visionary and compassionate leader in the greater San Diego community. He was a Bank Executive at Great American Bank, a development partner at Carter Reese & Associates, a civic leader and a very proud husband to Judy Carter, father and grandfather. He was born and raised in San Diego attending high school at San Diego High and college at San Diego State University where he served as Student Body President. He loved and believed in San Diego. He worked daily to make it America’s Finest City. Whether it was volunteering as a member of the Board of Directors at San Diego State University Foundation or Children’s Hospital, Tom gave San Diego his very best. He was a founding member of the San Diego Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation Board of Directors and it was only fitting for the Foundation to name a scholarship in his honor upon his death.

Deborah Ann Stephens

Scholarship Award $5,000

San Diego Community Leader and Activist

The late Deborah Stephens was a valued member of the San Diego community. She was retired from AT&T and worked at Carter Reese & Associates at the time of her untimely death. She was a native San Diegan and a proud graduate of Lincoln High School. Deborah worked tirelessly for and with San Diego youth. She was determined to make sure each child had an opportunity to graduate from high school and attend college. She served on numerous Boards of Directors including the Grandparents Connection, San Diego Black Journalists, and the Catfish Club. In acknowledgement for Deborah’s love for the Foundation and her high school alma mater, her husband established the Deborah Ann Stephen’s scholarship at the Foundation in her honor for a worthy Lincoln High School graduate.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Scholarship Award $5,000

Memorial Scholarship Award

About Our Scholarships

Applications and all supporting materials must be postmarked by February 28, 2014.

Incomplete or late applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered.

Mail application, together with

complete, official high school transcript and two letters of recommendation to:

San Diego Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation

2250 Fourth Avenue, Suite 300

San Diego, CA 92101

Submitting your Application

Click Here for 2014 Scholarship Application!

For Graduating Seniors in the San Diego Unified School District

The San Diego Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation will award a minimum of four (4) scholarships in 2014:

- A $7,500 scholarship in honor of San Diego civic leader, the Reverend George Walker Smith.
- A $7,500 scholarship in memory of San Diego business and civic leader, Mr. Tom Carter.
- A $5,000 scholarship in memory of San Diego community leader and activist, Mrs. Debra Ann Stephens
- A $5,000 scholarship in memory of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

All of these scholarships commemorate the personal commitment to justice, fairness, equality, and spirit of service to others exemplified by these civic-minded Americans.

The application process is open to graduating seniors attending high schools in the San Diego Unified School District. Recipients will be selected through a competitive process that includes review of their academic standing, financial need, extra-curricular activities, and demonstration of personal qualities and commitment to service to others. Students wishing to be considered for either scholarship should submit a single application packet that includes the completed application, official high school transcript, and two letters of recommendation provided by persons not related to you, including one from your school and one from a person with knowledge of your community service and involvement.

The scholarships can be used at any four-year, fully accredited college or university of the recipient’s choice. Scholarship funds are paid directly to the college, in annual, prorated installments over a four to five year period. The total scholarship must be used within five years of the award date. Recipients are required to remain enrolled full-time, in good standing, with a cumulative college grade point average of 3.0 or better. Before applying, students should read the Eligibility and Qualifications, and the Instructions on the back of this application. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Deadline: Applications with transcripts and recommendation letters must be postmarked by February 28, 2014

Eligibility and Qualifications
To be eligible, applicant must be a graduating high school senior enrolled in a public high school in the San Diego Unified School District, and planning to enroll in and attend full-time at a four-year, fully accredited
college or university. To qualify for consideration, student must show evidence of academic standing, involvement in extra-curricular activities, financial need, and commitment to justice, fairness, equality and
service to others as reflected in the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Rev. George Walker Smith, Mr. Tom Carter, and Mrs. Debra Stephens, for whom the Foundation’s scholarships are named. Preference may be
given to students planning to attend member colleges of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

Instructions
To apply, complete this application as thoroughly as possible and return it by the deadline with your complete,
official high school transcript and two letters of recommendation from persons not related to you, including one from your school and one from a person with knowledge of your community service/involvement. (Application and materials will not be returned)

Applications should be typed (single spaced) or printed neatly in black ink. Use additional paper, if necessary, to respond to Part V (Personal Commitment and Service). Your essay should not exceed two pages.

It is anticipated that winners will be announced by June 2014.