ALKU Scholarship

Created in 2015 by ALKU Founder and MMP Board Member Mark Eldridge, the ALKU Scholarship is a $30,000 college scholarship for rising high school seniors. Through Mark’s leadership and generosity, the scholarship provides youth the opportunity to apply for financial support to achieve their full potential as they pursue their college careers.

By providing financial resources, ALKU and MMP together aim to build the capacity of organizations to connect youth to a broader web of support, build on the opportunities their existing mentoring relationships have offered them and help eliminate any barriers to future academic, economic, or social success.

In order to qualify for the award, the student must be…

• Enrolled in a high school within Massachusetts
• A rising high school senior (i.e. Class of 2027 / student will be a high school senior starting in Fall 2026).
• Applying to a four-year, accredited institution to acquire a Bachelor’s degree in any field
• Engaged in a quality mentoring relationship for at least one year. This mentoring relationship can be with any adult, except for the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, who provides caring, consistent guidance and support.
• Able to demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to their communities

It is important for us that this application process is accessible for all applicants. For any requests or needs regarding accessibility, accommodations, modifications, or specific preferences we should be aware of to ensure your experience is accessible, positive, and supported, please contact Olivia Taylor at otaylor@massmentors.org .

Note: There is no citizenship requirement for this scholarship, nor will we inquire about citizenship status.

What happens after I submit my application?

After applications are closed, applications are distributed to the ALKU Scholarship Committee along with scoring rubrics and score sheets. Committee members undergo training by the MMP Program Services Team prior to scoring applications. The Committee will then review and score all of the applications using a standardized rubric. Once all of the applications have gone through the first round of review and scoring, MMP compiles the scores to get the top 15 applications. Those applications are presented to the committee as a group, with the main reviewers of the application providing additional insight and lead discussions. The Committee will then vote and decide on the top 5 applicants. MMP’s CEO and ALKU’s Founder will review the top 5 applications and ultimately choose the 2026 ALKU Scholar on October 28th!

Guidelines & Criteria

Students must complete their own applications, but mentors may assist. Applicants must be enrolled in a high school in Massachusetts and must be a rising senior (Class of 2027 / student will be a high school senior in Fall 2026). Applicants must intend to apply to a four-year, accredited institution to acquire a bachelor’s degree in any field, beginning in Fall 2027. Only students with an expected high school graduation date of 2027 are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Eligible applicants must be engaged in a quality youth-adult mentoring relationship that has been in existence for at least one year. This mentoring relationship can be with any adult, except for the applicant's parent or legal guardian, who provides caring, consistent guidance and support.

Applications must include one (1) letter of recommendation from the applicant’s mentor. This letter should describe how the student has benefited from their mentoring relationship, what the young person’s educational goals and challenges are, and why they are deserving of this scholarship.

Applicants should upload one (1) photograph of themselves together with their mentor. 

*Note, the photograph will not be shown to the review committee, but may be used in event materials if selected as the 2026 ALKU Scholar. If you are unable to provide a photo at this time, we will only ask you to provide one if you are selected.  

Applicants must attain an average GPA of 2.75 or higher. If selected as a finalist, the applicant must provide a copy of their high school transcript verifying their GPA.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Demonstrated need for scholarship
2. Clear desire, motivation, and passion to attend college/university (please indicate a post-secondary education plan, if applicable)
3. Establishment of impactful mentoring relationship
4. Demonstrated and detailed work and/or leadership experience outside of school (employment, internships, volunteer work, community involvement)

If awarded, Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) requires the following:

1. Signed ALKU Scholarship Award Letter of acceptance
2. Signed Media Consent Form (must be signed by parent/guardian if scholar is under the age of 18)
3. Attendance by scholar and mentor at Mass Mentoring Partnership’s signature Cheers to Mentoring event on November 18, 2026. At this event, Mark Eldridge, former ALKU CEO and founder of the ALKU Scholarship, alongside other ALKU employees, will be there to present the winning scholar with the award.
4. Winning scholar will be expected to attend an annual meeting with previous ALKU scholarship winners.  
5. Winning scholar must provide yearly updates on college GPA. Scholars must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 to maintain their scholarship award.

Scholarship Use:  The award must be used for the student’s educational pursuits, such as college tuition, books, or other materials and expenses necessary for college.

Disbursement: The award will be disbursed in $3,750 increments, once per semester, over the scholar's consecutive four years in college, totaling $30,000. The scholarship funds must be used within four years, beginning in Fall 2027, and ending in Spring 2031. If necessary, a one-year extension may be granted. This request would be considered on a case-by-case basis.