Inspired by the belief that love and peaceful protest can eliminate social, political and economic injustice, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., became this nation’s most heralded civil right leader. He aroused blacks and whites alike to protest racial discrimination, war and poverty. A champion of nonviolent resistance to oppression, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King’s life ended at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968 when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. However short his life, he greatly advanced the cause of civil rights in this nation. His life serves as encouragement to each of us to do all that we can to end injustice.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Scholarships will be awarded each year to area high school seniors (regardless of ethnicity) who actively embrace Dr. King’s dream of improving racial harmony and social justice. The scholarship award(s) will be at least $1,000 and are non-renewable. The scholarship award(s) will be presented at the annual Great Lakes Bay Regional Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration program to be held in January.

Applicants must be a high school senior in Bay, Midland or Saginaw County, have a minimum 2.0 GPA and have plans to attend a college, university, or vocational program. This scholarship application opens on September 1 and completed applications are due by October 31 each year.