The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship History

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Program was founded in 1968 by three faculty members, Dr. Mark Rerick and Dr. Francis P. MacKay of the Chemistry Department and Dr. Rene E. Fortin of the English Department, to commemorate the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In its first year, the program helped provide financial assistance to eleven academically qualified local African-American students who were unable to afford a college education at Providence College. 

Today, the program continues to flourish growing from eleven African-American students to 127 students from a wide array of cultural backgrounds who enrich the Providence College community with their unique heritage. The Program has successfully graduated over 550 students. Alumni who are Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholars have gone on to distinguish themselves in a variety of ways by entering careers in medicine, business, law, education, and religious life. We invite you to become part of the celebrated tradition at Providence College

Students who are competitive for the scholarship demonstrate solid academic achievement, outstanding leadership and community service activities, strong personal qualities, and financial need. Recipients of the scholarship must be willing to contribute to the Providence College community through active participation in the Balfour Center for Multicultural Affairs, campus life and academics. Scholarship recipients receive academic advising from their respective departmental advisors as well as regular monitoring and support from the scholarship director.

The number of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarships offered varies from year to year, depending on the availability of funds.

If you should have any further questions about the program, please feel free to contact:

Raul Fonts
Sr. Associate Dean of Admission
401-865–2535

Michael Walsh , Director Multicultural Scholarship Program/Assistant Dean
401-865–2738