The Commission will award 10 scholarships of $5,000 per student
Deadline: February 28, 2025
The New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission is proud to offer 10 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 per student to current high school seniors who are New Jersey residents. The scholarships will be awarded based on review of application by the independent reviewers appointed by the Commission. The online application consists of three (3) essays on assigned topics:
NOTE: Applicants selected for the final review will be required to email two (2) school and community service reference letters and official high school transcript.
The on-line application portal will be open for submissions until 12PM Friday, February 28, 2025. See below for PDF copy of the form for reference. Applications must be submitted via online form – see below for link.
Applicants must respond to the following three essay questions:
APPLY NOW: https://forms.office.com/g/eNrdN2fRW2
DOWNLOADS:
MLK25 Scholarship Flyer Final
MLK25 Scholarship Form Questions
On Monday, January 20, 2025, Commission Chair George Guy, Jr. raised public awareness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ideals and philosophy as he represented the Commission during the Community segment of PHL 17 in Philadelphia. Below is the brief video interview.
For more information on activities happening statewide to honor Dr. King, For details, download the 2025 MLK Day Commemorative Events and Celebrations list.
The NJ Martin Luther King Commission announces the 2025 MLK King Day commemoration grantees and events. The Commission charged an independent reader panel to read the more than 40 applications to select organizations whose events aligned with the Commission’s charge to support statewide activities to honor Dr. King.
“On behalf of the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, we extend our congratulations and thanks to these New Jersey organizations,” Commission Chairman George Guy said. “Their community-based commemorations of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement inspires and gives us hope for the future.”
The 2025 MLK Day Commemorative events and celebrations will be held on and around the week of January 20, 2025.
For details, download the 2025 MLK Day Commemorative Events and Celebrations list.
The New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is offering mini-grants to support commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his work & legacy, on or around the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on January 20, 2025.
The Commission will award mini-grants to community organizations and programs to highlight and commemorate Dr. King on or around the 2025 MLK Holiday. Funding based on the reach of the program; grants up to $1000 for local programs; $2500 for regional programs; and up to $5000 for statewide programs.
** APPLICATION DEADLINE: The Application Period is Closed **
APPLICATION: The three-page application should address the following
NARRATIVE: (2 page maximum)
BUDGET: MLK25 King Day Budget form
NOTE: No direct gifts or gift cards can be purchased with this grant.
To receive funding, grantees must be either registered in NJStart or submit a completed NJ Non-procurement W9 as directed on the form. Please direct any questions about these processes to the contacts listed on the forms.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Eligible agencies include public or private non-profit organizations (501C3), community and faith-based organizations; American or NJ Indian Tribal communities: local education agencies, charter schools and institutions of higher education; local, county or state government; labor organizations; and partnerships or consortia consisting of the aforementioned.
ABOUT APPLYING:
1. Register online at: https://forms.office.com/g/SfKdPfYMD9 to apply.
2. Use the subject line: MLK25 Commemorative and email Narrative (1 – 2pgs) and Budget to MLKCommission@sos.nj.gov.
3. Application deadline Monday, October 21, 2024 at 9:00 AM.
4. MLK Commission will review only applications submitted by registered entities. (see #1).
ABOUT THE AWARD:
1. Awards will be announced early November 2024.
2. Funds will be made available by December 31. Pending grantee compliance with terms.
3. Funds must be spent by 11:59P on March 17, 2025.
4. A final report (minimum 1 page), expenditure report and photographs are due to the MLK Commission by April 1, 2025 by 5PM
All events will be listed on the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission website.
The MLK Commission will provide commemorative items for the events
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDING BUDGET FORM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
Questions? Please email the Commission at MLKCommission@sos.nj.gov
Downloads:
The New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is offering mini grants in honor of the 60th anniversary of the tumultuous events of 1964 and the persistence and courage of both heroes and ordinary citizens that forever changed our country.
This year’s grant commemorates 1964: Summer of Decision, from the church-led Freedom Summer that drew students to Mississippi to set up Freedom Schools and assist with voter registration; to the transcendent speech of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer at the Democratic Convention in Atlantic City; and culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation in schools, voting, and public accommodations.
The Commission will award 10 mini-grants of up to $5,000, to community organizations and programs to highlight and commemorate the civil rights activists & activities of 1964 and its relevance to our times.
We are seeking applications of up to 3 pages, including a budget, that will propose events or programs that might include: Community Service or Clean-up; Presentation: Fannie Lou Hamer’s DNC 1964 Speech: Arts event; Civil Rights Discussion/Roundtable’ Interview vets of the Civil Rights Movement; Sports Event; etc.
**APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59PM on July 10, 2024**
APPLICATION: The three-page application should address the following
NARRATIVE: (2 page maximum)
BUDGET: (1 page):
NOTE: No direct gifts or gift cards can be purchased with this grant.
Grantees must be registered in NJStart to receive funding.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Eligible agencies include public or private non-profit organizations, community and faith-based organizations; American Indian Tribal communities: local education agencies, charter schools and institutions of higher education; local, county or state government; labor organizations; and partnerships or consortia consisting of the aforementioned.
ABOUT APPLYING:
ABOUT THE AWARD:
SOURCES
The New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will provide commemorative items for the events.
Questions? Please email the Commission at MLKCommission@sos.nj.gov
After reviewing submissions from almost 200 New Jersey high school seniors, the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission is pleased to introduce the 10 winners of the 2025 NJ MLK Jr Scholarship Essay Contest.
‘Looking Back at Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize speech
MLK24 Scholar: 1
Rchin Bari
Brown University
Essex County Newark Tech
MLK24 Scholar: 2
Brooke Bokser
Cornell University
Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest
MLK24 Scholar: 3
Alondra Calva
Villanova University
John E Dwyer Technology Academy
MLK24 Scholar: 4
Taylor Douglas
American University
Freehold Township High School
MLK24 Scholar: 5
Ella Ehrlich
Cornell University
Bergen County Academies
MLK24 Scholar: 6
Bernard Liang
Duke University
Manalapan High School
MLK24 Scholar: 7
Reese Passuth
University of Hartford
Union County Vocational Technical High School
MLK24 Scholar: 8
Savannah Rodriguez
Hampton University
Rahway High School
MLK24 Scholar: 9
Makenna Thomas
Alvernia University
Vernon Township High School
MLK24 Scholar: 10
Rochelle Vil
TBD
William L. Dickinson High School
“The 2024 essay contest winners shared insightful comments about the significance of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. King as reflected in his remarkable speech,” said New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the MLK Jr. Commission in her capacity as Secretary of State. “I applaud these young people for their commitment to community service and furthering the legacy of Dr. King through both their words and their actions.”
A virtual awards ceremony was held in the evening of May 29 to announce the 2024 MLK Scholars who come from across the state. Hosted by NJ MLK JR Commission Chairman George Guy and members of the Commission, the ten scholars were in attendance to accept their awards.
“On behalf of the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, we extend our congratulations to our ten MLK Scholars who will be moving onto post-secondary education in the fall,” said Commission Chairman George Guy. “Their essays about Dr. King’s famous Nobel Prize speech and how his work continues to inspire both their academic work and community service, gives us all abundant hope for the future.”
The 2024 MLK Scholars will be awarded $5,000 scholarship for the university or college of their choice in the fall of 2024.
It is with heavy heart that the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission announces the deaths of former Commission members
James Lawrence Ballantine in Morristown, NJ
Kenyon Clinton Burke in Ashburn, VA
Sarah Murray Dundas in Morris Township, NJ
Commission Chair George V. Guy, Jr. said “Our mission to educate our fellow New Jerseyans on Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement was enriched and fortified by the presence of veterans civil rights and social justice advocates James Ballentine, Kenyon Burke and Sarah Dundas. We will miss them but stand stronger for their contributions.”
The Commission extends sincere condolences to the families and friends of James Ballantine, Kenyon Burke and Sarah Dundas who served on the citizens of New Jersey and the Commission with distinction.
After reviewing submissions for almost 200 New Jersey high school seniors, the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission announces the 10 winners of ‘Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere’ 2023 Scholarship Essay Contest:
MLK23 Scholar: 1
SEKNA BAZZI
Barnard College of Columbia University
Science Park High School
MLK23 Scholar: 2
ALBERT CAESAR
Princeton University
Ridge High School
MLK23 Scholar: 3
SPENCER JAHNG
TBA
The Pingry School
MLK23 Scholar: 4
MIRIKA JAMBUDI
Harvard University
The Pingry School
MLK23 Scholar: 5
MATTHEW LEE
Columbia University
East Brunswick High School
MLK23 Scholar: 6
JADA SAMPSON
TBA
Academy for Performing Arts
MLK23 Scholar: 7
KASAI SANCHEZ
William Paterson University
Teaneck High School
MLK23 Scholar: 8
AMANDA THOMAS
TBA
Union County Magnet High School
MLK23 Scholar: 9
DEVIN TORRES
University of Southern California
Lenape High School
MLK23 Scholar: 10
JEFFREY XU
Princeton University
Livingston High School
“Our 2023 essay contest winners demonstrated a thoughtful understanding of how Dr. King’s fight against injustice was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent resistance movement that successfully ended almost a century of British colonial rule in India. I am thrilled to congratulate these young leaders and extend our wishes for their future success,” said NJ Secretary of State Tahesha Way.
“On behalf of the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, we extend our congratulations to our ten MLK Scholars who will be entering college in the fall,” Commission Chairman George Guy said. “Their essays about Dr. King’s legacy and his inspiration for their academic work and community service, has given all of us great hope for the future.”
The 2023 MLK Scholars will be awarded $5,000 scholarship for the university or college of their choice.
The New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is offering mini-grants in honor of the 60th anniversary of Dr. King’s I HAVE A DREAM speech, which he delivered at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963.
The Commission will award 10 mini-grants of $5,000 each, to community organizations and programs to highlight and commemorate Dr. King’s historic speech and its relevance to our times. We are seeking applications of up to 3 pages, including a budget, that will propose events or programs that might include:
Community Service or Clean-up; Presentation of MLK I Have a Dream Speech: Arts event; Civil Rights Discussion or Roundtable; Interviews of veterans of the Civil Rights Movement; Sports Event; Your own idea!!
Find out more information and how to applyBy Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
CHERRY HILL – George Guy Jr. entered Prairie View A&M University near Houston after attending high school in Willingboro to become a veterinarian.
We, the Commissioners of the New Jersey Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission, denounce the senseless murders of George Floyd; Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and countless other African Americans who for too long have been the victims of institutionalized racial injustice in this country. In his book Why We Can’t Wait, Dr. King wrote “Three hundred years of humiliation, abuse and deprivation cannot be expected to find voice in a whisper.” We decry the effects of systemic racial discrimination, not with a whisper, but with a thunderous outcry that we will match with renewed vigilance and purposeful and powerful actions.
Each year, the Commission, the first such State Commission in the Nation, recalls historical events in the life of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, while focusing on issues of current import. We have commemorated the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Jackie Robinson breaking the color line in baseball, and “Women Who Led” in the struggle for civil rights. This year, we have chosen the theme: “Youth, We Hear You,” recognizing the emerging voices of a new generation. We will host a Youth Town Hall in the Fall, and our annual Commemorative on January 17, 2021, which will be followed by a statewide virtual Youth Conference and Day of Service on January 18, 2021.
In the face of the recent historically deplorable events, and the extraordinary moment that they offer, the Commission plans to develop an agenda focused on key issues that provide both challenges and opportunities for progress. We believe that New Jersey can be a role model to finally recognize the fullest manifestation of democracy in this country. This vision calls for policies that guarantee equal protection under the law; that promise that race and poverty will no longer be death sentences; and an end to mass incarceration. We call for eliminating deadly force police protocols, de-militarized policing, developing a comprehensive plan to end school desegregation, and exploring ideas that are being studied related to reparative justice. We also call for appropriate funding for counseling services for students to address bullying and racial discrimination. We will make our agenda known throughout the state and will invite groups and individuals, of all ages and backgrounds, to join us in achieving these objectives. We will also highlight the ongoing work of organizations throughout New Jersey and provide a platform for them to share our mutual commitment and goals.
As we recognize Dr. King’s call to action in the “fierce urgency of now,” we call upon everyone to become involved, to join us in partnership, and to go from strength to strength together. Please join us!
It has been 400 years since the first arrival in English-occupied North America of enslaved people from Africa. To mark this anniversary, the Commission is highlighting resources related to the history of slavery in New Jersey.
New Jerseyans Reflect on the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in commemoration of his 90th Birthday
Official Site of The State of New Jersey
