2025-2026 King/Chávez Scholars Application

Application Eligibility and Instructions

Program Mission
The King/Chávez Scholars Program is designed to attract and retain exceptional incoming undergraduate scholars to UW-Whitewater. Students come from diverse backgrounds and engage in high impact educational practices and experiences that will adequately prepare them to be leaders that inspire, engage, and transform the UWW campus community and beyond. This program also reflects UW-Whitewater’s commitment to upholding the ideals and expectations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chávez.

Program Highlights
The program prepares students for the transition from high school to college, provides peer groups for academic and social support, offers faculty mentorship opportunities, introduces undergraduate research and its relationship to classroom and career performance, and fosters readiness for graduate and professional study. King/Chávez Scholars are awarded a merit-based scholarship package totaling approximately $5,000.

Program Eligibility
Qualified applicants are UW-Whitewater admitted students, first-time Freshman in the fall following high school graduation, enrolled in at least 12 in-person credits on the Whitewater campus by the start of the program, and have a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Special consideration is given to first-generation college students and those with significant financial need.

Application Deadline
Students applying for the King/Chávez program are considered for one of 25 scholarships on a first-come, first-served rolling basis. Applications received before May 16, 2025, may be reviewed by the scholarship committee. Those received after that date are considered along with other applicants on the waiting list if space is available.

Only complete applications are considered, and it is highly recommended to attach a letter of recommendation.

If there are any questions, please email the King/Chávez Scholars Program at KCScholars@uww.edu.

Personal Information

Preferred Name

First Name

Last Name

Birthdate

Preferred Pronouns

Please tell us your preferred pronouns below:

Mailing Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Personal Email

UW-Whitewater Email Address
This email begins with your NetID and ends with @uww.edu (e.g. Willie Warhawk's email would be WarhawkWT68@uww.edu).
Please check this email regularly.

Phone Number

Parent/Legal Guardian Phone Number

Have you applied to or been accepted into any of the following UW-Whitewater programs?
Note: enrollment in certain campus programs may require you to choose which program to participate in.

All-In Milwaukee

CSD Summer Transition

Future Teachers Program

Pathway for Success

STEM Boot Camp

Summer Business Institute

U-Lead

Other

Please write the name of the program below:

Are you a first-generation college student?
A first-generation college student is someone whose parents or guardians did not complete a two-year or four-year college degree.

Yes

Generally, how are you planning to pay for college at UW-Whitewater? (Please select all that apply based on your best estimate)

Subsidized loans offered via FAFSA

Unsubsidized loans offered via FAFSA

Work-study offered via FAFSA

Pell Grant

Scholarships

Other grants

Parent PLUS Loan

Work

Private loan

Financial support from parents/family members

Other

Please describe below:

Education Information

High School Name

High School GPA

Estimated Number of Incoming Credits (e.g. retro credits, AP Test 3+, college courses taken in high school, etc.)

Pre-College Activity

All-In Milwaukee

Boys & Girls Club - Grad Plus

GEAR UP

PEOPLE Program

Talent Search (TRIO)

Upward Bound (TRIO)

UW-Whitewater Academic Camps

Other

None

Please describe below:

Anticipated Major(s)

Anticipated Minor(s)

Do you plan to live on campus?
Note: Living on campus in the King/Chávez Learning Community is required for all King/Chávez Scholars.

Yes

References

Please list two professional references (e.g. teacher, counselor, supervisor, etc.)

DeleteReference _ID_
Name Relation Email Phone

Add Reference

Letter of Recommendation

As part of the application process, you may upload a letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, supervisor, etc. While not required, it is highly recommended.

Please upload a PDF or Word Document of your letter of recommendation

Application Essay Questions

Please respond to the following 4 questions.
Note: Responses must be at least 250 words each. If any responses are less than 250 words, then the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Please describe your educational goals. What are they and how will you achieve them?

Can you describe a time in your life that you faced a difficult challenge? What was the challenge and how did you conquer it?

What is your experience with inclusivity? How does it impact you and your community?

After reading about the King/Chávez Scholars Program, please explain how this program will help you succeed in college. What aspects of the program are you looking forward to participating in?

Interview Availability

If your application meets all of the requirements and qualifications, you may be asked to participate in a virtual interview. Interviews would take place virtually via Webex and last approximately 30-45 minutes.

Please indicate which day(s) you would be available for a virtual interview:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Which time slots are you available on Mondays?

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Which time slots are you available on Tuesdays?

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Which time slots are you available on Wednesdays?

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Which time slots are you available on Thursdays?

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Which time slots are you available on Fridays?

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Application Agreement

If selected for the King/Chávez Scholars Program, I agree to commit to the following requirements:

Participating in the mandatory King/Chávez Fall Transition Program, August 24 - August 29, 2025*
Living in Wells West Hall*
Enrolling in the King/Chávez linked courses for both fall and spring terms*
Registering and attending the King/Chávez Research Seminar course for the Spring Semester
Completing a research project and participating in the King/Chávez Poster Symposium
Participating in the Little Scholars community outreach program
Attending all King/Chávez events and advising meetings

*These requirements may vary student to student depending on program participation and clearance from the program director.

Below, please type "I agree" to acknowledge your understanding of program expectations

Student Release Authorization

In place of your signature, please type your full legal name below

Today's Date