Applications for the 2005 Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars Program are no longer being accepted. Please check back in November 2005 for information about the 2006 MLK Program. Thank you for your interest.

Students seeking to be Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars are required to submit:

• A resume or OF-612 application form, available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of612.pdf;

• Proof of continuing enrollment, such as a transcript or letter from the registrar;

• Proof of academic good standing, such as a transcript;

• Two academic references with the reference's name, title, and contact information;

• A brief essay of 500 words on the link between education policy and the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as expressed in the following quotation: "And a man has not begun to live until he can rise above the narrow confines of his own individual concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." (Martin Luther King, Jr., "The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life," in A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by Clayborne Carson and Peter Holloran, New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1998.); and

• A one-page cover letter on why the student wishes to be a Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholar and what he or she has accomplished or plans to accomplish that reflects Dr. King's philosophies.

Please submit completed applications to:

Human Resources
U.S Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20202
ATTN: Martin Luther King Scholars Program

Applications must be postmarked no later than January 21, 2005.

The U. S. Department of Education's Human Resources Services will review the application packages for legal, regulatory, and program requirements. Applications from eligible students will be referred to a panel for review and then evaluated based on academic achievement, the quality of thought exemplified in the letter and essay, and the strength of the candidate's interest in education policy or public policy and administration.

Scholars will be expected to:

• Commit to an eight-week period beginning June 13, 2005, and ending on August 5, 2005, with the possibility of up to a four-week extension;
• Work closely with a senior official on a specific issue or project;
• Participate in periodic briefings and other activities held for scholars; and
• Deliver a final presentation to senior staff detailing their experience as a Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholar.

Please note: Students selected as Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars will be required to secure their own housing while in Washington. A list of possible housing and contact information for scholars who might be looking for roommates will be available.

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