Martin Achievement Scholarship Program

Website: Martin Family Foundation

Description

The Martin Family Foundation established the Martin Achievement Scholarship program to fund students who have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in sciences, math, engineering, business, arts, humanities, music (all academic fields are supported), and/or leadership at a community college in the state of Washington. The program will select Martin Achievement Scholars early in their community college career and will fund, encourage and support their study and eventual transfer to the University of Washington in Seattle.

Martin Achievement Scholars may receive $5,000 in support for their final year in community college and up to $12,000 per year for three years at UW in Seattle.  Awarded on a competitive basis, the Martin Achievement Scholarship recognizes promise and accomplishment in academics, leadership, or contributions to the community. 

Please note: Community college students should be applying for this scholarship over a year in advance of when they anticipate transferring to UW-Seattle. For example, if you hope to transfer to UW-Seattle in fall 2025, then apply for this scholarship in winter 2024, to receive $5,000 for your final year of community college studies in 2024-25 and then start at UW-Seattle in fall 2025 with the $12,000/year scholarship.

Eligibility

To be considered for the 2024 scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be Washington State residents who meet any one of the following three categories:
    1. US citizens, or
    2. US Permanent Residents, or
    3. Eligible for in-state tuition through HB 1079 qualification or DACA standards.
  • Be currently enrolled students at a community college in the state of Washington pursuing their first baccalaureate degree, with one more academic year of full-time enrollment remaining during 2024-25 before transfer.
  • Have earned a minimum of 15 community college transfer credits at a community college in the state of Washington by the scholarship application deadline.
  • Have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in science, engineering, business, humanities, music, art (all academic fields are supported), leadership and/or service to the community
  • Be planning to enter UW Seattle as transfer students no sooner than summer 2025.
    • Running Start students are not eligible to apply for this scholarship, but should consider applying for the Martin Honors Scholarship next year.
    • Students planning to transfer to UW in 2024 should apply for the Martin Honors Scholarship (not the Achievement Scholarship), which will have an application available later in the spring.
    • The UW portion of the award will depend on successful admission to University of Washington Seattle.
      • Unfortunately students planning to attend UW Bothell or UW Tacoma are not eligible to apply.
  • The selection committees give no consideration to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Funding & Enrollment Requirements:

For students selected to receive the scholarship, the Martin Achievement Scholarships provide $5,000 toward the final year at their community college. Martin Achievement Scholars are expected to be enrolled full-time throughout that final year at their community college, and apply for transfer admission to UW in Seattle by the admission deadline.

Once at UW Seattle, the scholarship provides $12,000/year for up to 3 years (most scholars graduate in 2 years, but a 3rd year of funding is available if needed). Scholars are expected to be enrolled full-time throughout the regular academic year (fall, winter and spring quarters).

Student Type
  • freshman
  • sophomore
  • junior
Citizen Type
  • US Citizen
  • Permanent Resident
  • Undocumented
Procedure

The Martin Achievement Scholarship application will be available in February 2024.

Applicants interested in applying for the Martin Achievement Scholarship will be asked to submit the following materials:

  • A completed online application, including basic biographical and educational information, along with 4 short response questions, and an optional question about impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic:
    • What are the two most significant courses you have taken at the community college in preparation for your career? Briefly explain why these courses were most significant? (Limit 500 words)
    • Describe an activity or experience that has been important in shaping, clarifying, and/or strengthening your motivation to pursue an undergraduate degree in your proposed field of study. Why do you think this particular activity or experience influenced you? (Limit 500 words)
    • Describe a recent particularly satisfying experience or activity at either work, community service, or with your family (do not repeat the experience described in the previous question). (Limit 600 words)
    • What additional information do you wish to share with the Martin Scholarship Review Committees? Please consider this essay an opportunity to provide additional context to the information already shared in the previous essays. Consider filling in any gaps, or connecting any dots that would allow the selection committees to better understand you and your goals. (Limit 500 words)
    • Optional: In what unique ways has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you and your candidacy for this scholarship? (Limit 200 words). If COVID-19 did not affect your candidacy for this scholarship, simply skip this question or state that there was no impact. Please note that your application will not be looked at less favorably in any way if you choose not to answer this question.
  • Current transcripts from all community colleges/universities attended. Unofficial transcripts are accepted.
  • A Curriculum Vitae or activities resume listing honors, awards, scholarships, service, research, work experience, etc., and
  • Two letters of recommendation; at least one must be written by a faculty member addressing the candidate's intellectual curiosity and potential.  The other can be written by someone able to address the candidate's capabilities and volunteer/community involvement.

An internal UW selection committee will review all complete applications submitted by the deadline and invite a select number of applicants to interview with the Martin Family Foundation Board in May. Final selection decisions will be made by the Martin Family Foundation Board after those interviews. Interviews will be conducted either in-person at UW in Seattle, or via Zoom, depending on health and safety considerations and distance for finalists.

Selection criteria:

  • Career goals: Well-formulated ideas about the direction of studies and future career and/or professional goals.
  • Academics: Strong academic potential and starting to build toward their stated goals, including potential for admission to UW Seattle as a transfer student in the area of study discussed.
  • Service: Engagement with leadership, service or volunteer work in their community(ies), which could also include activities/responsibilities related to family. 
  • Recommendation letters: Supportive letters that confirm and provide further evidence of the student's strengths, interests, goals, areas for growth.
  • Leverage: the support the scholarship provides would be encouraging and have an impact on the applicant's movement toward their goals.
Contact Information

Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards
171 Mary Gates Hall
Box 352803
Seattle, WA 98195-2805
Phone: 206-543-2603
E-mail: scholarq@u.washington.edu