March The application requires the following:

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1 March 2016 The Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce is excited to share with you the 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Application. We are setting up this process different from the past. Please review the details so that students can complete the application and have a great opportunity to successfully submit their application on time. The application requires the following: The application requires both student signature and parent signature An Blue print essay words (outlined in the application) Two signed letters of recommendations Official school transcript Submitted by the deadline Monday, May 2, 2016 (address noted in the application) Some additional information: We have scheduled application support for student to at the Abilene Public Library for April 2 and April 9 1:00 pm- 2:30 pm. If you are interested in hosting application support at your facility please contact Lisette Spraggins at We have attached sample letters for recommendation requests and transcript requests Applicants must attend high school within the Taylor County Scholarship recipients will be notified the week of May 9 th The Scholarship/Graduation Celebration will be May 31 st at Ben E. Keith s reception hall Students can attend Community college, Vocational/Technical colleges Thank you in advance for your support The MLK Scholarship Committee

2 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Guidelines NATURE OF AWARD The Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce has established a scholarship to be awarded to deserving recipients. The Annual MLK Banquet will serve as the funding source for the scholarship. Therefore, the amount of the Scholarship may vary from year to year. Consistent with Dr. King's legacy, the most qualifying criteria for the Scholarship that students must demonstrate are social activism, community involvement and service. Such involvement builds strong lines of communication and is essential to the development of effective, lasting relationships that advance social change within a community. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars will be selected on the basis of demonstrated leadership; commitment to and involvement with social change; financial need; academic achievement; and acceptance/enrollment in a post high school institution of learning. Qualifications for the MLK Scholarship: 1. The Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce has established a scholarship to be awarded to deserving recipients, African American students specifically. 2. Students that attend high school within the Taylor County 3. Have a 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) GPA or higher 4. Plan to attend college full time (minimum of 12 semester hours) 5. Write an essay as directed in the "Written Essay section of the Scholarship Application APPLICATION PROCEDURE Students who wish to apply for this scholarship must: 1. Complete the MLK scholarship Application 2. Provide two letters of recommendations. (These letters of recommendation may be completed by any educator, minister, employer, etc. who knows the applicant.) 3. Mail completed application form with a copy of their official transcript postmarked by May 2, 2016 to the address on the last page of the application. SELECTION PROCEDURE Final selection will be made by an appointed committee. The recipients will be chosen, and alternates will be selected in the event any of the recipients are not able to accept the scholarship. Recipients will be expected to participate in a brief interview prior to the event and to be present to receive their scholarship at the MLK Scholarship Banquet May 31, 2016 at the Ben E. Keith reception hall. PAYMENT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP Payment of the scholarship will be made upon verification of enrollment in a college or university.

3 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PLEASE PRINT IN BLACK OR BLUE INK OR TYPE APPLICATION SUBMITTAL DEADLINE May 2, 2016 PERSONAL DATA Social Security Number: - - Age: High School Name: Class of: 20 Name: Last First Middle Address: City: State: Zip: Number and Street Name Apt. # Home Telephone #: Date of Birth: / / PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION FATHER: Age: Home Telephone# Last First M/i Address: City: State: Zip: Number and Street Name Apt. # Employer: Employer Address: Telephone # Number and Street Name Position/Job Title: MOTHER: Age: Home Telephone# Last First M/i Address: City: State: Zip: Number and Street Name Apt. # Employer: Employer Address: Telephone # Number and Street Name Position/Job Title: Other Family members in household: Age: Age: Age: Age: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Please list your extracurricular activities (academic, school clubs, religious affiliation, volunteer service) since the ninth grade, beginning with the most recent, in which you have actively participated. Include any offices held, honors, awards, etc. Activity Years of Participation Offices, Honors, Awards Activity Years of Participation Offices, Honors, Awards Activity Years of Participation Offices, Honors, Awards

4 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PAGE 2 0F 3 EMPLOYMENT RECORD Employer Position Dates of Employment From: To: Employer Position Dates of Employment From: To: FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PLAN ACADEMIC YEAR Please provide in order of preference, the following information on the colleges/universities to which you have applied or will be attending. College / University 1st Preference Status of Application: Accepted Pending College / University 2nd Preference Status of Application: Accepted Pending College / University 3rd Preference Status of Application: Accepted Pending AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO MEET EDUCATIONAL COSTS: Do you plan to file the FASFA (Federal Student Aid Form)? Yes No

5 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PAGE 3 0F 3 WRITTEN ESSAY Write a word essay in response to the question below. The essay should be typed (doublespaced) on separate sheets of paper and signed by the applicant. Several months before Dr. Martin Luther King s assassination, he wrote a speech titled, What Is Your Life s Blueprint? He presented this speech to some middle school students who were given a task to assess the blueprint of their own life. Dr. King said, I want to ask you a question, and that is, what is your life s blueprint? Whenever a building is constructed, you usually have an architect who draws a blueprint and that blueprint serves as a pattern, as a guide and a building is not well erected without a good solid blueprint. Now each of you is in the process of building the structure of your lives. The question is whether you have a proper, a solid and a sound blueprint. ESSAY SUBJECT: How is your blueprint in sync with what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned for future generations? In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King s life work, I pledge to do everything I can to make America and the world a place where equality and justice, freedom and peace will grow and flourish. CERTIFICATION I certify that to the best of my knowledge, the information contained in this application is correct and complete, and that the essay is my own composition. I have requested transcripts from the school(s) I am / have attended. I am willing to appear for a personal interview if I am selected as a scholarship finalist. Candidate s Name Printed Candidate s Signature Parent / Guardian s Name Printed Parent / Guardian s Signature APPLICATION SUBMITTAL DEADLINE: May 2, 2016 Checklist: Signed essay Two signed letters of recommendation A complete application with all categories addressed (including official school transcript) Signatures on page 3 MAIL TO: Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Committee P.O. Box 3572 Abilene, Texas Applicant s Name

6 REQUEST FOR TRANSCRIPT Name Street Address City, State Zip Address Date To Whom It May Concern: I would like to request a copy of my transcript be sent to the following address. I have provided the information requested through the web site and have included the $5.00 transcript fee. Name (may just be listed as [other name you go by]) DOB: XX-XX-XXXX SSN: (only if asked for ) Dates attended: Fall 2012 through Spring 2016 Please send the transcript to the following address: (insert home address) Please contact me at the given address, by phone (home: XXX-XXX-XXXX; work: XXX-XXX-XXXX) or by the given if there are any problems. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, (sign here)