Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation awards over $50,000 in total scholarships at UW each year. The program annually recognizes UW sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students (apply during your sophomore, junior year or once already established as a graduate student), based on distinguished achievement in scholarship, leadership and service to the campus and community.

For 2026-27, the Foundation is opening the Application Cycle March 1, 2026 and accepting scholarship applications until April 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT. To be considered, an applicant must be a currently enrolled student at the University of Washington for the 2026-2027 academic year of sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate status.

The Mortar Board scholarship application is not an application for collegiate membership in Mortar Board honor society. It is solely a scholarship application, and membership in Mortar Board is not required for scholarship selection.

These scholarships range between $2,000 and $3,000. An awarded scholarship can be used only for tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for instruction as they are considered Qualified Scholarships.

• Applicants must be an enrolled sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student of the University of Washington, including all campuses, during Spring Quarter. 
• Applicants must not be related to a past or present director and/or employee of the Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation.

• sophomore
• junior
• senior
• graduate

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• International or Other Visa Status
• Undocumented

The application form is available for download at https://www.mortarboardtolo.org/scholarships/.

Completed applications (and letters of reference) must be submitted to toloscholars@gmail.com by the deadline.

To be considered, each completed application must be submitted as a typed (10+point font), combined, single PDF (combining all elements), and must include:

• Cover letter: (1 page max, APA format), explaining academic/life goals and how funds will be used.

• Personal Essay: (2 pages max, APA format), demonstrating your Scholarship, Leadership, and Service involvement post high school, both on and off campus. Include dates and frequency of activity (hours per week, etc.).

• Resume: (1 page max)

• Transcript: Current unofficial UW transcript, including Winter Quarter, and if applicable, unofficial transcripts from any other college/universities attended. Note: UW Cumulative GPAs below 3.4 will not be considered. 

• Letter of Recommendation (“LOR”): a single LOR (1 page max), sent directly from your recommender in a separate PDF to toloscholars@gmail.com with your first and last name in the subject line on or before the deadline. 

Mortar Board is a national honor society recognizing college seniors for their exemplary scholarship, leadership, and service. Mortar Board membership is one of the highest honors a university student can achieve. There has been an active Mortar Board chapter (Tolo Chapter) at the University of Washington since 1909.  Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation, a related but separate alumni organization which annually awards UW merit scholarships, was started by Tolo Chapter alumni and Mortar Board alumni graduating from other universities but living in the Puget Sound area.

If you have questions about the scholarship application process, please email toloscholars@gmail.com.

For all other Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation matters, please send your email to mortarboardalumni.tolo@gmail.com.