Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

To honor the legacy of one of our greatest alumni, we recognize students who embrace his ideals. In 1951, Dr. King came to Boston University to earn his PhD in systematic theology. Today the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship provides four-year, full-tuition awards for academically gifted students with proven leadership abilities, a strong commitment to social justice and a record of community involvement.

Scholarship winners continue their commitment to service at Boston University. All are required to complete a minimum of 100 community service hours each year in conjunction with BU’s Howard Thurman Center, the hub of multicultural life on campus. The center supports student organizations, sponsors events and promotes ongoing conversations about the common ground shared by all. In addition, recipients have the opportunity to live in the Common Ground House, one of BU’s specialty residences.

To be considered for a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship:

• Print the scholarship nomination form and give it to a mentor, teacher or advisor.
• Write a 500-word essay on the topic below.
• Submit the Common Application for admission to one of the undergraduate degree programs at Boston University, the BU Common Application Supplement, the nomination form and your 500-word essay no later than December 1. For more information on applying to BU, see our Application Instructions.
• On the BU Common Application Supplement, indicate that you are a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship applicant by typing the letters “MK” in the box marked “Office Use Only” at the bottom of page one.
• Submit official results of either the SAT with two SAT Subject Tests, or the ACT with Writing Test. For some programs, additional SAT Subject Tests may be required. All tests must be taken no later than November.

Essay Question:

Write a 500 word essay in response to the following quotation. Use a specific example of something you have done in your life that demonstrates your belief in Dr. King’s legacy of civic involvement and commitment to social justice. 

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Submit your essay via email to mlkschol@bu.edu as an attached document in one of the following formats: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc), Open Document (.odt), Rich Text (.rtf), or Plain Text (.txt). Please include your name and the words “MLK Essay” in the subject line, and type your name and birth date on the essay.