Martin Achievement Scholarship
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, social sciences (all academic fields are supported) and leadership at any community college in the state of Washington. The program will select Martin Achievement Scholars early in the first year of their community college career and will fund, encourage and support their second year of study and eventual transfer to the University of Washington in Seattle.
Please note that students must apply for this scholarship nearly 1.5 years in advance of when they would hope to transfer to UW. For example, if you hope to transfer to UW in fall 2024 after another year of full-time at your community college during 2023-24, then you would apply for the Martin Achievement Scholarship in during the Feb-April 2023 application cycle.
The award is dependent on successful admission to the University of Washington in Seattle as a matriculated student. Financial need may be considered during the selection process but is not a requirement.
Notable Updates:
- The Martin Achievement Scholarship is now open to students at community colleges across Washington State. The previous eligibility limitation to specific community colleges has been removed.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be Washington State residents who meet any one of the following three categories:
- US citizens, or
- US Permanent Residents, or
- Eligible for in-state tuition through HB 1079 qualification or DACA standards.
- For additional information about HB 1079 or DACA standards qualification, please visit https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa and please read about UW’s requirements at https://www.washington.edu/financialaid/hb-1079-real-hope/.
- 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, with one more academic year of full-time enrollment remaining during 2023-24 at a WA community college before transferring to UW in Seattle.
- Have earned a minimum of 15 community college transfer credits at a community college in the state of Washington by the scholarship application deadline.
- Have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in sciences, engineering, math, business, humanities, social sciences, music, art (all academic disciplines are supported), leadership and/or service to the community
- Be planning to enter UW Seattle as transfer students no sooner than summer 2024.
- 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 2023 should apply for the Martin Honors Scholarship (not the Achievement Scholarship), which will have an application available later this spring.
- The UW portion of the award will depend on successful admission to University of Washington Seattle.
- Unfortunately students planning to attend UW Bothell or UW Tacoma are not eligible to apply.
- 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, 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).
Application & Timeline:
The Martin Achievement Scholarship application is available annually, February through April. The deadline to apply is generally in early April, just after spring break.
Please click here for additional information, application details, and to access the online application when it becomes available in February.
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 each year. Final selection decisions will be made by the Martin Family Foundation Board after those interviews. Interviews will be conducted either in-person at UW in Seattle, or via Zoom, depending on health and safety considerations and distance for finalists.
Contact Us:
If you have additional questions, please contact the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards at the University of Washington: scholarq@uw.edu, 206-543-4282, 171 Mary Gates Hall.