Introduction & Welcome

Applications for this year open on November 4, 2023.  Please complete the process by no later than 5PM February 15, 2024  and contact us if you have any questions at applications@kennedyking.org.  We will review all applications throughout February and March and recipients will be notified by April.

Apply using the  online Undergraduate Application Portal listed below. But before you do, please read the 2024 Undergraduate Letter and Instructions which follows immediately below. 

We have added additional content on this page to help you with the application process. 

These include:

• A  video to walk you through the application process. The content of this video was presented to Los Medanos prospective applicants via a zoom meeting and includes an overview of the scholarships offered, a walkthrough of the online application process, and Q&A. 
• A Key dates and application checklist which provides detailed information on what you should be working on month to month and key dates you should make sure you should be aware of.
• Tips for writing an autobiographical statement which provides information that may be useful in completing your autobiographical essay and publication summary
• Undergraduate application FAQs which may answer additional questions you may have. 

Application process opens

All of the required documents are listed on the online application portal.
These include, but are not limited to:

• Undergraduate Application (Complete on your online account including all signatures, essays, and other information requested)
• Undergraduate Counselor Verification Form (Request from your online account)
• Two Reference Forms (Request from your online account)
• Financial Forms as noted in the Undergraduate Letter (SAR, FAFSA, or Cal Grand Dream Act) if you intend to file these. (Upload to your online account)
• Transcripts (Upload to your online account)

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Create an account and log into the Kennedy-King 2023 Undergraduate Scholarship Application (See Online Form section above)

Complete the initial qualification screen to ensure you qualify for the scholarship. You will simply answer a few questions and will be allowed to continue completing the full application.

Start completing the application.
There are many sections of the application that you can complete quickly. Move forward and complete these as best you can and make notes of items you will need to follow up on such as reference letters and counselor verification forms. You will be required to upload certain documents such as transcripts. The document types you can use to upload documents are pdf, doc, xlsx. Please do not attempt to upload other document types. 

Get started on references
We require two completed reference forms submitted through the application tool.
Think about 4-5 people who would make a good reference. References could include people who know you well or can speak to who you are such as: professors, counselors, clergy, managers, etc. Please do not include references from family members or friends. 

Request Counselor Verification Forms

Request counselor verification forms as soon as possible. This is a stumbling block for many students and your community college counselors are normally on vacation mid-December through the end of January.

Work on your Autobiographical Essay & Publication Summary
This is a section which is difficult for many applicants. So, take advantage of the Winter break and work on this section.  Please see the section on this website for Tips on Writing an Autobiographical Essay.

Request reference letters before the Winter break
This is especially important if you will be requesting reference letters from professors. Give them ample to complete these.

Request Counselor Verification Forms if you have not done so already

Request counselor verification forms as soon as possible. This is a stumbling block for many students and your community college counselors are normally on vacation mid-December through the end of January.

Continue working on your application if you have not completed it.

Request Counselor Verification Forms - you are now on a time crunch

As soon as you return to class, request counselor verification forms to be completed.

Submit all required documents

Submit all required documents using the online application. These include: FASB, transcripts, counselor verification forms, authorizations, etc.

Complete your Autobiographical Essay & Publication Summary

It is now time to put the finishing touches on these statements and complete. 

Check on reference letters

Make sure at least two reference letters have been submitted to the application portal. If you have not received at least two, encourage the recipient of your request to complete these before the February 17th deadline. 

Complete the entire application by 5PM February 15th.

Make sure your application is complete – the deadline for ALL components is on this date.  This includes the completed application form, Counselor verification forms, reference forms, financial forms, etc. No exceptions will be made for incomplete applications. 

Verify that your contact information is accurate and correct

Don't miss out because you mistyped your email address or phone number

Notifications (early March)

You will be notified whether you are invited or not to interviews taking place on TBD

In Person (preferred) or Zoom Interviews will take place on the morning of Saturday,March 16

If selected for an interview, you must attend an interview held only on Saturday morning, March 16, 2023. Students awarded the scholarship will be notified soon after this date. 

Possible additional requests

You may be contacted by Kennedy-King with additional information or requests for the May meeting or celebration

Contract meeting and board dinner on May 6th at 5pm*

If selected for a scholarship, you must attend a two-hour meeting and dinner to sign the scholarship contract, meet Kennedy-King board members, and be introduced to the board member assigned to be your mentor.

Kennedy-King Awards Celebration on May 10th at 6PM*

If selected for a scholarship, you and two guests will be invited to attend our gala event where you will be recognized by the community on your achievements. 

* Needless to say, this is dependent on the situation at the time with Covid19.

As part of the Kennedy-King application process, you must complete an autobiographical essay and a publication summary.

The autobiographical essay should be no more than 1,000 words and must be completed in the space provided in the online application. Your application will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Demonstrated financial need
2. Academic achievement and potential
3. Community service and involvement
4. Personal attributes (e.g. character, integrity, responsibility, commitment, determination, hard work, achievements, hardships overcome, life goals, etc.)

If you feel your application may not fully reflect the above criteria, you should address those subjects specifically, in your autobiographical essay. Your autobiographical essay should not only address the evaluation criteria above; but should also answer the question: Why do you believe you should be given a Kennedy-King scholarship?

Here are some general tips to keep in mind as you write your autobiographical essay and publication summary:

What is your story – start, middle, and end. Reflect on the message you want to convey. Avoid rambling sentences without a point. Be yourself, be honest, help us understand who you are and what you hope to achieve. The word authentic is often overused, but just be yourself and keep in mind you are filling in gaps from the application so we can understand who you are. 

Start by providing all the points you want to share with us without worrying about the word count. That comes later as you fine-tune. Then focus on your message and edit out unnecessary words/sentences. As you edit and review the structure of your story, find words and expressions that are intentional in presenting you in the best light. No one enjoys reading pointless run-on-sentences. Remember to use sentences, paragraphs, periods, commas and other basic grammar constructs. Think about the opening sentence and make it compelling.  Close your essay by summarizing the important points from your accomplishments; your projections for your future; and tie back to your opening.  While you want to illustrate points, don’t use clichés, exaggerate, plagiarize. 

Expect to complete your essay in multiple interations. Read it out loud – does it hold interest? Is the essay cohesive, clear, compelling? Have someone proofread your essay and get their feedback. Plan ahead and start writing your essay in December.  This gives you time for careful iteration and completion by January. Spell and grammar checks can be your friend; but good proofreaders are your best friends. Don’t panic – and take your time; you got this! 

One last but very important tip, do not share information you consider confidential or could harm you. Your autobiographical essay will be shared with Kennedy-King board members and volunteer interviewers.   

All of the required documents are listed on the online application portal. These include, but are not limited to:

• Undergraduate Application (including all signatures, essays, and other information requested)
• Undergraduate Counselor Verification Form (request from your online account)
• Two Reference Forms(request from your online account)
• Financial Forms as noted in the Undergraduate Letter (SAR, FAFSA, or Cal Grand Dream Act) if you intend to file these.  (Upload to your online account)
• Transcripts (Upload to your online account)
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

The document types you can use to upload documents are pdf, doc, xlsx.

Please do not upload jpg, png, or other types of documents.

The deadlines are published in the key events and undergraduate letter above. 

Instructions are published in the undergraduate letter above.

No. All applications must be completed through the online portal. If you cannot, please contact applications@kennedyking.org

All of the information needed to complete the application is located on this page. If you have additional questions, please contact applications@kennedyking.org

In addition, you can view a presentation we gave to prospective applicants sponsored by LMC (view here) that provides an overview of the scholarship, insights on the application process by a former applicant, and an overview on how to navigate the on-line application.