ALKU Scholarship

Created in 2015 by ALKU CEO 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 2026 / student will be a high school senior starting in Fall 2025).
• 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

For full guidelines and eligibility criteria, please preview the application questions online.

Each year, since 2015, ALKU has partnered with Mass Mentoring Partnership to provide a $30,000 academic scholarship or $7,500 per academic year, to a rising high school senior in Massachusetts. This recipient of the scholarship has been positively impacted and engaged in a youth-adult mentoring relationship for at least one year and has plans to attend a 4-year College or University.  

At ALKU, we believe in the power of mentoring. Our mission as a company is to provide our employees the tools and resources to grow their careers. By actively engaging in the mentoring cause, we can utilize the resources we have, and the values we pride ourselves on cultivating, to empower those who need support. ALKU chose the mentoring cause because of the value and impact that just one positive youth-adult mentoring relationship can have on a young person.

This scholarship provides an opportunity for young people to apply for financial support in pursuit of their goal to attend college and earn a bachelor’s degree.

This year, the ALKU Scholarship will be awarded to one recipient. Each scholarship will total $30,000 over the course of 4 years.

All application materials must be submitted online by 11:59 PM on September 25, 2025. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you have any questions about this application, please contact Olivia Taylor, Advancement Operations Manager, at otaylor@massmentors.org.

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 2026 / student will be a high school senior in Fall 2025). Applicants must intend to apply to a four-year, accredited institution to acquire a bachelor’s degree in any field, beginning in Fall 2026. Only students with an expected high school graduation date of 2026 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 2025 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, 2025. At this event, Mark Eldridge, 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 2026, and ending in Spring 2030. If necessary, a one-year extension may be granted. This request would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Accessibility: 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.