SIUE Student Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to one SIUE undergraduate student who has demonstrated the characteristics and ideals of Dr. King. The awardee must be admitted or enrolled for full-time study at SIUE for the fall 2027 and spring 2028 semesters after they are awarded the scholarship (when the scholarship is applied). They must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) upon application and have completed at least one academic term as a full-time undergraduate student at SIUE.
The scholarship application will open very soon on SIUE's Academic Works with a submission date of November 25, 2026! Prepare your materials now! Check the application components below.
Scholarship applicants will be judged on the following criteria:
- Scholarship
- Commitment to humanitarian ideals
- Leadership and/or community service
- Two letters of recommendation (Must be forwarded by the writers to MLKCelebration@siue.edu)
- Personal resumé
- A personal statement of 250 words which expresses a commitment to the values and beliefs of Dr. King, as well as future goals
- A brief essay (500 words) reflecting on the theme for the 2027 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon Celebration "Beyond the Dream: Building Our Community Together". This theme represents King's concept of the "beloved community". The concept was not simply an ideal future - it represented the kind of society that could emerge through reconciliation, justice, dignity, and people working together. His writings repeatedly described the beloved community as the ultimate goal of the movement.
Past Award Winners
- 2026 Sahara Williams
- 2025 Albert Smith, Jr.
- 2024 Breanna Wyhs
- 2023 Kiya Rainey
- 2022 Jaala Taylor
- 2021 Armon Adkins
- 2020 Jullianne Bigueras
- 2019 Vernon Smith
- 2018 Jonathan Amwayi
