Rosa L. Parks Michigan Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Rosa L. Parks Scholarship Foundation
Overview
The Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation was created in 1980 to honor Rosa L. Parks — a civil-rights icon and longtime Michigan resident — and to commemorate her courageous role in the 1955–56 Montgomery Bus Boycott. The foundation provides one-year, non-renewable scholarships to Michigan high school seniors who share Mrs. Parks’ commitment to social justice and community service, maintain solid academic performance, and demonstrate financial need.
Award use
This equal-opportunity scholarship may be applied only to first-year college tuition, required fees, and textbooks. It cannot be used for room and board or other living expenses. Students who expect to receive a full-tuition award from another source should not apply.
Eligibility
- Be a Michigan high school senior graduating in spring 2025 and planning to enroll full-time in a postsecondary program in fall 2025.
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.5.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Students in Early College programs that extend into a 13th year are not eligible to apply during their 12th year. Applicants must submit during their actual year of graduation.
Required application materials
Applicants must submit all of the following:
- Completed application form.
- A short essay (200–300 words) responding to this prompt: Segregation was the defining social issue when Rosa Parks took her historic stand. Describe a social issue you believe should be addressed today, and explain how YOU would apply the principles of Rosa Parks to confront it.
- Statement/documentation of financial need.
- Official high school transcript.
- A list of honors, awards, extracurricular activities, and community service.
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one must be from a school representative; the other may be from a community/civic leader or a member of the clergy).
Application process and instructions
The online application has two parts: a multi-page personal/financial form and a separate one-page upload form for attachments (PDF or Word). Important notes:
- The multi-page form does not auto-save. Use the SAVE CURRENT PAGE button on each page to preserve your entries.
- The FIRST PAGE and PREVIOUS PAGE buttons are for moving between pages only; they do not save your work.
- You may log out and return later, provided you have saved each page before leaving.
- After you press SUBMIT on the multi-page form, you will not be able to edit it.
- The final step is the attachment upload form. Upload the required documents (two reference letters; official transcript; honors/awards, activities and community service list; and your short essay) in PDF or MS Word format. Click UPLOAD to transmit your attachments.
- Once your attachments are uploaded, your application is complete. You should receive a confirmation email.
Questions
If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, contact the Foundation (provide appropriate contact information where available).