Kennedy-King Scholarship: Eligibility and Application Guide

The Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund offers scholarships to students transferring from Contra Costa County community colleges to four-year institutions and graduate students. This guide provides a detailed overview of the eligibility requirements and the application process.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Kennedy-King Scholarship, ensure you meet the following criteria:

Enrollment: Be enrolled for the fall semester prior to the award (or have completed your course work within the past year) at Diablo Valley, Contra Costa, or Los Medanos Colleges.
Transfer Students: For undergraduate scholarships, applicants must transfer in the fall or spring following the award from Contra Costa County community colleges to junior standing in four-year accredited institutions.
Graduate Students: Applicants must be accepted and enrolled in an academically accredited graduate program leading to a graduate degree.

Application Process

The application process for the Kennedy-King Undergraduate Scholarship involves several key steps. Applications for the current cycle open soon. Here's a breakdown of what you need to do:

1. Initial Qualification

Create an account and log into the Kennedy-King Undergraduate Scholarship Application.
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.

2. Application Form

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.

3. Required Documents

Submit all required documents using the online application. These include:

Transcripts. The document types you can use to upload documents are pdf, doc, xlsx. Please do not upload jpg, png, or other types of documents.
Financial Forms: 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). Applications may be submitted without FAFSA financial information at this time, however once that information does become available it will need to be provided to Kennedy-King.

4. Reference Forms

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.
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 28th deadline.
Give them ample to complete these.

5. 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. This is a section which is difficult for many applicants. So, take advantage of the Winter break and work on this section.
As soon as you return to class, request counselor verification forms to be completed.

6. Autobiographical Essay & Publication Summary

Complete your Autobiographical Essay & Publication Summary. It is now time to put the finishing touches on these statements and complete.
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.

Tips for Writing an Autobiographical Statement

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

Write an outline of what you want to say in the essay. 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.
Make a draft without worrying about the word count, then edit. 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.
Take your time and fine tune. Expect to complete your essay in multiple iterations. 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!
Keep confidential information confidential. 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.

Key Events and Deadlines

February 20: Complete the application by 5PM February 20th. Make sure your application is complete - the deadline for ALL components is on this date. This includes the completed application form, reference forms, etc. No exceptions will be made for incomplete applications. Applications may be submitted without FAFSA financial information, however once that information arrives, it will then need to be submitted to Kennedy-King.
Early March: Notifications will be sent out regarding interview invitations.
March 14: Interviews will take place in person (preferred) or via Zoom on Saturday morning of March 14. If selected for an interview, you must attend an interview held only on Saturday morning, March 14, 2026. Students awarded the scholarship will be notified soon after this date.
May 11: Mandatory Contract meeting and board dinner on May 11th 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.
May 15: Mandatory Kennedy-King Awards Celebration on May 15th 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.
April: You may be contacted by Kennedy-King with additional information or requests for the May meeting or celebration

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Besides the standard undergraduate and graduate scholarships, Kennedy-King also provides Regalia Awards.

Regalia Awards: Kennedy-King provides a number of Regalia Awards to each of the three community colleges within the Contra Costa Community College District. These $1,000 scholarships are given out to students in great need and in peril of dropping out of school due to financial difficulties and who identify as socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged. Kennedy-King does not distribute these scholarships directly.

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