MLK GOLD Scholarship

The MLK GOLD (Graduation, Opportunities, Leadership, Diversity) Scholarship is designed for students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and community involvement—whether through leadership, civic engagement, or service in communities beyond their own—and who will contribute meaningfully to the diversity of our campus through their experiences in schools, organizations, and personal lives.

Students eligible for the MLK GOLD are admitted as first-year students to WMU. Transfer students are ineligible to apply, except in cases where transfer credits are obtained through dual enrollment or early/middle college. 

Award Amount

The MLK GOLD Scholarship is a tuition-based scholarship valued at up to $32,000 over four years.  This includes up to $8000 per year (for four years) for tuition during the fall and spring semesters.

Eligibility

To be considered for the award, the minimum criteria must be met.

• 3.0+ GPA at the time of admission
• Demonstrate financial Need (Pell-eligible)
• Have not been accepted into or are receiving tuition funds from any other special program (e.g., Seita Scholars, Kalamazoo Promise, Detroit Promise, CAMP)
• Demonstrate community involvement through leadership, civic engagement, or service within a community beyond their own. 

Students who are awarded the MLK GOLD Scholarship are automatically enrolled in the MLK Jr. Student Scholars Academy. Requirements for the program are as follows.

Requirement

• Participate actively in the MLK Academy
• Be registered as full-time (at least 12 credits per semester)
• Earn a minimum of 2.5 GPA
• Earn 24 new WMU credit hours by the end of the spring semester (no transfers,  withdrawals, or repeats will be counted towards the scholarship).
• Enroll in the FYE-MLK Academy as a first-year student

If you are interested in the MLK GOLD Scholarship and the MLK Academy, use the link below to apply.  See below for essay prompts (choose only one). The scholarship process includes the application and an interview. 

Required Essay Prompts: 

1. How have you made a meaningful impact in a community that is not your own? What inspired your involvement, and what did you learn from the experience?
2. Civic engagement means more than volunteering. Explain how you have actively participated in addressing a social issue or promoting change in your school, local, or global community.
3. In what ways have you worked to bridge cultural, socioeconomic, or generational divides? Reflect on how that experience shaped your worldview.
4. Leadership isn't always about being in charge.  Describe a time when you led by listening, supporting others, or elevating voices different from your own.