Josie Washington Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

The Kappa Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has established the Josie Washington Memorial Scholarship in honor of a dedicated member, Josie Washington. A committed educator in the Dallas public school system, Washington spent a significant portion of her career at Lincoln High School. She was an active member of various organizations and was always ready to volunteer her services. After her passing, she left a generous endowment to her sorority, which the Kappa Zeta Chapter decided to use to create a scholarship fund in her memory.

Objective

The scholarship aims to recognize a high school senior who embodies the spirit of an "Unsung Hero". This individual has either overcome significant challenges, contributed to humanitarian causes, or performed heroic acts within their community, school, or religious groups.

Award

The recipient of the scholarship will be chosen based on the provided documents, recommendation letters, and an interview. The selected student will be acknowledged in Spring 2025.

Eligibility

1. The applicant must be a high school senior residing in a city within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
2. The applicant must intend to pursue further education after high school, either at a 2-or 4-year college or an accredited technical/trade school.

The application period for the scholarship begins on November 16, 2024, and ends on January 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted. A student checklist detailing the application process and information about all available scholarships can be downloaded.

Application process:

1. Create a Google Drive folder named First Last_24-25 KZ Scholarships (e.g., Jane Doe_24-25 KZ Scholarships).
2. Adjust the share settings of your folder to allow "anyone with the link" to view it.
3. Create six (6) additional folders within the main folder and name them as follows:
4. Within the main folder, create and label six (6) additional folders and insert the corresponding documents:
   1. Official transcript (Unweighted GPA-4.0 scale)- Include a copy of your official high school transcript with rank and unweighted GPA (4.0 scale). Ensure you have requested an unweighted transcript from your counselor.
   2. Community Service/Volunteer Hours- Include a single document summarizing all community service and volunteer hours, with dates and total hours calculated.
   3. Student Extracurricular Activities- Include a single document listing all extracurricular activities, awards, etc., with dates.
   4. Recommendation Letters- Include two recommendation letters from any of the following: High School Teacher/Administrator/Counselor, Community Leader, Minister/Church Leader, or Supervisor from work or Community Service Project.
   5. Scholarship Essay (PDF Copy)- Include a PDF copy of your essay (e.g., Josie Washington Memorial Essay). The essay topic is: In 500 words or less, tell us who your hero is and why, including how their actions have impacted your life.
   6. Headshot (JPEG or PNG)- Include a digital headshot photo in JPEG or PNG format.
5. Complete the application form (Click here to complete the application)
6. Include the link to your Google Drive folder in section number (6) of the application. Ensure the link is set to “anyone with link” may view. The application and Google Drive folder must be submitted by January 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM.