The expected top scholarship amount could be as much as $10,000. Other top scholarship amounts could be $7,500 and $5,000, with lower scholarship awards being in the $1,500 to $2,500 range.

No. All scholarships will be awarded once.

Students must reside in Buncombe County and must be seniors in high school.

A student can apply his or her scholarship award to any two- or four-year college or university.

March 17.

Students will be notified in late Spring if they will receive a scholarship. Students who are awarded scholarships will be asked to attend an Scholarship Awards Ceremony held in late May or early June. Exact dates to be determined and communicated via email.

Although academic success is examined by scholarship judges, the most important criteria are how the student demonstrates a commitment to forwarding Dr. King’s legacy through anti-racist activism, nonviolent protest, or community building. These criteria can be demonstrated through the student’s personal essay, as well as through his or her list of community accomplishments/activities and professional resume. They can also be indicated in the two letters of recommendation that are required with each application.

The scholarships are judged by a panel of community members who have been selected by the Martin Luther King Association’s Board of Directors. Judges must be actively involved in social justice, educational, or anti-racism efforts in the community. Each judge receives a scoring rubric, and the scores are tallied by the Association’s College Scholarship Committee.

After a student enrolls into a college and receives a student ID number, the Association writes a check for the scholarship amount and mails it to the student’s college. The college will then put the money toward the student’s cost of attendance