Application Instructions

Thank you for your interest in our scholarship opportunities. Please read the following instructions carefully. All application materials are due no later than 11:59 PM CST on April 13, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For questions, please contact us via email at lmoscholarshipcommittee@gmail.com. All applicants must complete the ONLINE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM (click banner above or this link https://form.jotform.com/243494717166162).

• A FEMALE college student attending an accredited four-year college or university in the United States, OR a graduating high school senior in the City of Chicago who plans to attend a four-year college or university beginning in Fall 2024.
• A high school or college student with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a four-point scale, or 3.75 or higher on a five-point scale
• Applicants should demonstrate evidence of community service or involvement, which may include volunteer work, leadership roles in community organizations, or other relevant activities.
• Applicants must not have a familial relationship with a member of the L.M.O. Foundation.
• Preference will be given to residents of Illinois.

• Gladys Lewis HBCU Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who plans to attend or currently attends a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or Predominantly Black Institution (PBI).
• Jessie M. Shaw Merit Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who has a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a four-point scale.
• Claudette McFarland Winstead Need-Based Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates a significant need for additional financial assistance. Applicants must provide documentation verifying financial need, such as a Federal Student Aid Report or other relevant documents showing a gap between expenses and available funding sources.
• Valerie Jones-Bland Education Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who is pursuing a degree in education, instructional studies, or a closely related field. Applicants should demonstrate a passion for teaching and a commitment to fostering knowledge, development, and empowerment through education.

Book bans and challenges in schools and libraries have sparked national debates about access to information and the role of diverse perspectives in education. Discuss the significance of protecting access to diverse literature and ideas in shaping informed and inclusive communities. Share examples of how you have engaged with literature or advocated for diverse voices in your school or community, and explain how these experiences influence your vision for the future.

The essay is to be typed and double-spaced using 12-point Times New Roman font. Essays are limited to a maximum of 500 words. Your essay should contain only true information and your own original content. You should not use artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, to write any portion of your essay. If you include a quote or text written by any other person or published in any printed or online format, you must surround the copied text in quotation marks (") and indicate the original source of the text. Any submission containing false, plagiarized, or AI-generated material as part of your application will result in automatic disqualification for awards and render you ineligible for future opportunities with the L.M.O. Foundation.

Please ensure signed letters of recommendation are submitted electronically to lmoscholarshipcommittee@gmail.com from the recommender using their professional email address.

You are encouraged to start working on your application as soon as possible, as it may take several weeks to obtain letters of recommendation and complete all application material. Please follow up with any recommenders to ensure they understand all requirements and deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered, and there will not be any exceptions or extensions. 

Scholarship recipients will be notified in early June. Before funds are released, students will be required to submit an official transcript, a letter of acceptance from the college/university they plan to attend in the Fall (for high school seniors only), and proof of enrollment.

All application materials must be received by 11:59 PM CST on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered or reviewed.