The Martin Family Foundation Honors Scholarship Program enables Washington State Community College students of exceptional ability and outstanding achievement to complete their baccalaureate degrees at the University of Washington in Seattle. Martin Honors Scholars are encouraged to join departmental honors programs at UW, if available.

The application is open May 1 through July 1 each year for students planning to transfer to UW Seattle that summer, fall, or winter immediately following the application deadline. For example, if you will be transferring to UW Seattle in fall 2024 or winter 2025, then you would apply in the May-July 2024 application cycle. Spring 2024 transfers and other current UW students who have previously transferred to UW Seattle may also be eligible to apply as long as they will not have earned more than 18 credits at UW by the July 1 deadline. Please see complete eligibility details below.

Funding & Enrollment Requirements:

These scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. For students selected to receive the scholarship, and admitted to UW Seattle, the Martin Honors Scholarships provide $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).

• Learn about UW admission process and deadlines.
• Please note that receipt of the scholarship does not guarantee admission; nor does admission guarantee receipt of the scholarship. Martin Honors Scholars must apply for admission through the normal process; receipt of the scholarship is contingent upon successful admission and attendance at UW Seattle.
• Please also note that admission notification timelines vary. Many applicants will need to apply for the scholarship before receiving their admission decision from UW. You do not need to wait to receive your admission decision to apply for the scholarship. However, selection for the scholarship will be contingent on successful admission and matriculation at UW Seattle.

Applicants are considered for superior strength of character, intellectual ability, and sense of purpose. They are expected to have well-formulated ideas about the direction of future studies and subsequent careers. There should be evidence that a Martin Scholarship will encourage pursuit of a program of education most likely to fulfill the applicant's potential. Financial need may be considered but is not a requirement.

To be eligible for consideration, 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.
     • For additional information about HB 1079 or DACA standards qualification, please visit https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa and please read about UW’s requirements at https://www.washington.edu/financialaid/hb-1079-real-hope/.
     • If you have any questions or concerns about meeting this requirement, please contact Robin Chang at robinc@uw.eduor 206-543-2603.
• Be currently attending or have attended a community college in the state of Washington.
• Have earned a minimum of 36 credits at a Washington State Community College by the time they matriculate at the University of Washington in Seattle. Students who hold an associate's degree are encouraged to apply.
• Washington State community college transfer students who are currently enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle may not have earned more than 18 UW credits by the application deadline.
• The award will depend on successful admission to University of Washington Seattle as a matriculated student. 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.

This scholarship is open to both transfer students who are not part of Running Start, and Running Start students, assuming all of the eligibility requirements are met.

• sophomore
• junior

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• Undocumented

The online application will open on May 1 at https://new.expo.uw.edu/expo/apply/734.

• Important application note:
  • If you have already been assigned a UW NetID, please log into the application using that UW NetID.
  • If you have not yet been assigned a UW NetID, please log into our application system (called "expo") under "All Other Non-UW Users" and follow the instructions to "create a new expo account".

Applicants will use the online application form to submit the following materials:

• Basic biographical information, educational information, a brief description of your career goals and their connection to your academic plan,
• Short response questions:
  • 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)
• An activities resume or curriculum vitae (CV) listing honors, awards, scholarships, service, research, work experience, etc.,
• Current transcripts from all community colleges/universities attended. Unofficial transcripts are accepted.
• Two letters of recommendation: One must be written by a faculty member addressing the candidate's intellectual curiosity and potential. The second letter can come from any individual (advisor, mentor, supervisor, community member, another faculty member, etc.) who can address your capabilities and volunteer/community involvement. Letters from family members will not be considered. Applicants will register their recommenders in the online application, which will generate an email with instructions to the recommender for submitting their letter online. Please follow up with your letter writers to ensure they receive that email.
  • NOTE:  Individuals who are writing letters of recommendation must upload their letters to meet the application deadline. If they have questions, please have them contact the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards.
        Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards
        171 Mary Gates Hall, Box 352803
        Seattle  WA  98195
        Email:  scholarq@uw.edu
    Telephone: 206-543-2603

An internal UW selection committee will review all complete applications submitted by the deadline and invite a select number of semi-finalists to prepare and submit an additional brief essay. The internal UW campus selection committee will review those additional essays and select a small number of finalists to interview with the Martin Family Foundation Board in September. Final selection decisions will be made by the Martin Family Foundation Board after those interviews. 

Interview details: 

• Interview date: TBD for September 2024, 9:30am to approx. 12:00pm
  • Alternative dates cannot be accommodated. The Martin Family Foundation Board will be as flexible as possible to ensure all finalists have the opportunity to interview within this timeframe. We also ask finalists to be as flexible as possible to plan for these short interviews and keep your schedule as open as possible during this timeframe.
  • Interviews will be conducted in-person at UW in Seattle. Zoom interview options can be made available for those for whom in-person attendance would be a barrier.
  • Exact interview times will be determined once finalists are identified. Each interview is roughly 15 minutes.

Selection criteria:

• Career goals: Well-formulated ideas about the direction of studies and future career and/or professional goals.
• Academics: Strong academic abilities, active engagement in learning and potential to reach their stated goals.
• Service: Engagement with leadership, service, volunteer work in community(ies) and/or activities/responsibilities related to family. Evidence of positive impacts or potential for positive impacts in some way beyond themselves.

Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards
171 Mary Gates Hall
Box 352803
Seattle, WA 98195-2803
Phone: 206-543-2603
Fax: 206-685-7264
E-mail: scholarq@uw.edu