Martin Achievement Scholarship Program

The Martin Family Foundation established the Martin Achievement Scholarship program to fund students who have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in sciences, math, engineering, business, arts, humanities, music (all academic fields are supported), and/or leadership at a community college in the state of Washington. The program will select Martin Achievement Scholars early in their community college career and will fund, encourage and support their study and eventual transfer to the University of Washington in Seattle.

Martin Achievement Scholars may receive $5,000 in support for their final year in community college and up to $12,000 per year for three years at UW in Seattle.  Awarded on a competitive basis, the Martin Achievement Scholarship recognizes promise and accomplishment in academics, leadership, or contributions to the community.

Please note: Community college students should be applying for this scholarship over a year in advance of when they anticipate transferring to UW-Seattle. For example, if you hope to transfer to UW-Seattle in fall 2026, then apply for this scholarship in winter 2025, to receive $5,000 for your final year of community college studies in 2025-26, apply for UW admission and then start at UW-Seattle in fall 2026 with the $12,000/year scholarship at UW. Eligibility to apply during the winter 2025 application cycle includes those who plan to transfer to UW in Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Winter 2027.  

Eligibility

To be considered for the 2024 scholarship, applicants must:

• Be Washington State residents, and
• Meet any one of the following three categories:
  • US citizens, or
  • US Permanent Residents, or
  • Undocumented students who qualify for in-state tuition.
    • Please see the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) website for additional information about in-state tuition and Washington State financial aid qualifications. Please also read about UW’s requirements.
    • If you have any questions or concerns about meeting this requirement, please contact Robin Chang at robinc@uw.eduor 206-543-2603.
• Be currently enrolled students at a community college in the state of Washington pursuing their first baccalaureate degree, and
• Have earned a minimum of 15 community college transfer credits at a community college in the state of Washington by the scholarship application deadline, and
• Be planning to enroll full-time at a WA community college throughout the 2025-26 academic year, and
• Be planning to enter UW Seattle as transfer students no sooner than summer 2026, and
• Have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in science, engineering, business, humanities, music, art (all academic fields are supported), leadership and/or service to the community.

Important eligibility notes:

• Running Start students are not eligible to apply for this scholarship, but should consider applying for the Martin Honors Scholarship next year.
• Students planning to transfer to UW in 2025 should apply for the Martin Honors Scholarship (not the Achievement Scholarship), which will have an application available later in the spring.
• Students planning to attend UW Bothell or UW Tacoma are not eligible to apply for Martin Family Foundation Scholarships. The UW portion of these scholarships are applicable at UW in Seattle only.
• Financial need may be considered during the selection process but is not a requirement.

The selection committees give no consideration to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Funding & Enrollment Requirements:

For students selected to receive the scholarship, the Martin Achievement Scholarships provide $5,000 toward the final year at their community college. Martin Achievement Scholars are expected to be enrolled full-time throughout that final year at their community college, and apply for transfer admission to UW in Seattle by the admission deadline.

• Learn about UW admission process and deadlines.
• Please note that receipt of the scholarship does not guarantee admission. Martin Achievement Scholars must apply for admission through the normal process.

Once at UW Seattle, the scholarship provides $12,000/year for up to 3 years (most scholars graduate in 2 years, but a 3rd year of funding is available if needed). Scholars are expected to be enrolled full-time throughout the regular academic year (fall, winter and spring quarters).

Student Type

• freshman
• sophomore
• junior

Citizen Type

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• Undocumented

Procedure

The Martin Achievement Scholarship application will open February 1, 2025 at https://new.expo.uw.edu/expo/apply/761.

Applicants interested in applying for the Martin Achievement Scholarship will be asked to submit the following materials:

• A completed online application, including basic biographical and educational information, along with 4 short response questions:
  • What are the two most significant courses you have taken at the community college in preparation for your career? Briefly explain why these courses were most significant? (Limit 500 words)
  • Describe an activity or experience that has been important in shaping, clarifying, and/or strengthening your motivation to pursue an undergraduate degree in your proposed field of study. Why do you think this particular activity or experience influenced you? (Limit 500 words)
  • Describe a recent particularly satisfying experience or activity at either work, community service, or with your family (do not repeat the experience described in the previous question). (Limit 600 words)
  • What additional information do you wish to share with the Martin Scholarship Review Committees? Please consider this essay an opportunity to provide additional context to the information already shared in the previous essays. Consider filling in any gaps, or connecting any dots that would allow the selection committees to better understand you and your goals. (Limit 500 words)
• Current transcripts from all community colleges/universities attended. Unofficial transcripts are accepted.
• A curriculum vitae, resume, or activities list listing and describing honors, awards, scholarships, service, research, work experience, etc., (please find CV writing resources here) and
• Two letters of recommendation:
  • At least one letter must be written by an instructor or faculty member addressing your intellectual curiosity and potential. Ideally, this would be someone who has taught you at the community college-level.
  • The other letter can be written by someone able to address your capabilities and volunteer/community involvement. Letters from family members are not accepted.
  • Applicants will register their recommenders in the online application, which will generate an email with instructions to the recommender for submitting their letter online. Please follow up with your letter writers to ensure they receive that email.
  • NOTE:  Individuals who are writing letters of recommendation must upload their letters to meet the application deadline. If they have questions, please have them contact the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards.

Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

171 Mary Gates Hall, Box 352803

Seattle  WA  98195

Email:  scholarq@uw.edu 

Telephone: 206-543-2603

An internal UW selection committee will review all complete applications submitted by the deadline and invite a select number of applicants to interview with the Martin Family Foundation Board in May. Final selection decisions will be made by the Martin Family Foundation Board after those interviews.

Interview details:

• Interview date: May 13, 2025, 9:30 am to approx. 12:00 pm
  • Alternative dates cannot be accommodated. The Martin Family Foundation Board will be as flexible as possible to ensure all finalists have the opportunity to interview within this timeframe. We also ask finalists to be as flexible as possible to plan for these short interviews and keep your schedule as open as possible during this timeframe.
  • Interviews will be conducted in-person at UW in Seattle. Zoom interview options can be made available for those for whom in-person attendance would be a barrier.
  • Exact interview times will be determined once finalists are identified. Each interview is roughly 15 minutes.

Selection criteria:

• Career goals: Well-formulated ideas about the direction of studies and future career and/or professional goals.
• Academics: Strong academic potential and starting to build toward their stated goals, including potential for admission to UW Seattle as a transfer student in the area of study discussed.
• Service: Engagement with leadership, service or volunteer work in their community(ies), which could also include activities/responsibilities related to family.
• Recommendation letters: Supportive letters that confirm and provide further evidence of the student's strengths, interests, goals, areas for growth.
• Leverage: the support the scholarship provides would be encouraging and have an impact on the applicant's movement toward their goals.