In 1968, three faculty members, Dr. Mark Rerick and Dr. Francis P. MacKay of the Chemistry Department and Dr. Rene E. Fortin of the English Department, established a scholarship program in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to be funded by voluntary faculty donations. The administration approved a proposal of then Vice President, Father Robert A. Morris, O.P., to establish a college funded program for the same purpose. The two programs were merged to form the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Multicultural Scholarship. In its first year, the program helped provide financial assistance to eleven academically talented local African-American students who were unable to finance their college education at Providence College.

Today, the program continues to flourish, growing from eleven African-American students to over 100 students from a wide array of cultural backgrounds who enrich the Providence College community with their unique heritage. The program has successfully graduated well over 600 students. Alumni have entered careers in medicine, business, law, education, and religious life. We invite you to become part of this celebrated tradition at Providence College.

Students who are competitive for the scholarship exhibit solid academic achievement, outstanding leadership and community service activities, strong personal qualities, and demonstrate financial need. Recipients of the scholarship are expected 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. Providence College awards full-tuition, half-tuition, and partial-tuition scholarships.