The annual MLK Day Essay Contest is open to all Davenport students* currently enrolled for the Winter 2025 semester. The selected winner must be enrolled at least part time to utilize the scholarship. The author of the winning essay will receive a scholarship of $750. Second place will receive a scholarship of $250. Recipients will have four semesters to redeem the scholarship toward university expenses on campus (tuition, fees, bookstore, etc.).

The theme for 2025 surrounds Dr. King's dedication to justice and equality through nonviolence. Submissions will only be accepted through this site. Each student may submit one essay. Your essay must be your original thought. It must be conceived and written by you and represent your own thoughts. No literary form other than an essay will be accepted. You are not required to use research sources. However, if you do use research sources, please utilize the rules of APA Style. Your essay should be limited to no more than 500 words and should be written in English. Please refrain from using any identifiable information in your essay (name, etc.).

The deadline to submit essays will be 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8. The authors of the top two essays will be announced and recognized during our university-wide MLK Celebration at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The event will be held in the auditorium at the W.A. Lettinga campus and live-streamed.

Questions can be directed to studentlife@davenport.edu.  
 

*Students currently receiving certain tuition discounts are not eligible, including the online out-of-state tuition rate, State of Michigan, Biggby, etc. Please check with Student Financial Services to confirm eligibility if your expenses are already covered by other existing scholarships.

*Full or part-time university employees taking classes and utilizing tuition remission are not eligible to win the essay contest. Work-study student employees are eligible.