2026 Scholarship Application

Application Deadline: March 15, 2026

E-Mail Address: scholarship@dstfwac.org

            Website: www.dstfwac.org

 

January 19, 2026

 

Dear Applicant: 

The Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (FWAC-DST), a service sorority, may award up to a total of $36,000 in scholarships to graduating high school students who attend schools in Southern Prince George’s County (south of Central Avenue/Route 214) and Charles County who have demonstrated a concern for their community while maintaining academic excellence. The awards will be at minimum $1,000.[1] FWAC-DST provides payment of all scholarship money awarded directly to the college or university where the recipient is enrolled, on behalf of the recipient. FWAC-DST scholarship money may only be used to pay tuition, room and board, and fees. Students may apply for the FWAC-DST scholarship even if they have applied for or received scholarship awards from any other source, including other chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The scholarship can only be granted for the academic year following the award.[2]

FWAC-DST’s Scholarship Committee will evaluate candidates based on community service, academic achievement, a personal statement, an interview (if selected) and letters of recommendation. Community Service is the essential component of the award. All candidates must possess a minimum grade point average of 2.5 calculated through the end of the 2nd quarter of the 2025-2026 academic year and plan to enroll full-time in an accredited 2 or 4-year college/university in summer or fall 2026.

All items listed below must be submitted electronically with the application (this online application portal). Failure to include all items will result in your application being deemed incomplete:

1. Completion of the application in its entirety via the online application portal
2. Personal statement (minimum of 500 words)
3. Two (2) letters of recommendation uploaded directly into the online form: (a) a community service letter of recommendation from a community service representative or coordinator on official letterhead from the organization where the community service is performed (should include information based on personal knowledge regarding the applicant’s level of participation in the activity and how long the person has known applicant); and (b) a scholastic recommendation letter from staff/faculty member on official letterhead. Both letters must be typewritten/computer generated, dated, signed and addressed to Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
4. An unofficial electronic transcript with all recorded grades for your senior year uploaded into the appropriate section in the online application portal.

Applications must be received electronically no later than March 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST. Applications received electronically after this date WILL NOT be considered. Incomplete applications WILL NOT be considered. Candidates, if selected, are required to participate in an interview with members of the Scholarship Committee. Finalists will be notified in early April of the next steps.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact FWAC-DST's Scholarship Committee via email at scholarship@dstfwac.org.

Sincerely,       

Nichole R. Pinkney

President        

                                               

Dawnielle L. Battle, Scholarship Committee Co-Chair                    

Katrina R. King, Scholarship Committee Co-Chair

[1] Scholarship awards for the children of financial FWAC-DST members are not guaranteed to be a minimum of $1,000.
[2] FWAC-DST reserves the right to adjust the scholarship award of any recipient who has received full payment of tuition, room and board, and fees from other scholarships or grants for the academic year in which the award is to be paid.

2026 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

1. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior and entering college in the year of graduation with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.

2. The entire application package is electronic and must be submitted via this online application portal.  Handwritten applications will not be accepted.

3. To be eligible to apply for the FWAC-DST scholarship, applicants must attend a school (public or private) in the FWAC-DST service area or be a current member of FWAC-DST’s Delta GEMS, or be the child of a financial member of FWAC-DST. Our service area includes southern Prince George’s County (south of Route 214/ Central Avenue) and all of Charles County. The public high schools in our service area include: Academy of Health Sciences at PGCC; Central; Crossland; Frederick Douglass; Friendly; Gwynn Park; Henry E. Lackey; LaPlata; Largo; Maurice J. McDonough; North Point; Oxon Hill; Potomac; St. Charles; Robert D. Stethem Educational Center; Suitland; Surrattsville; Thomas Stone; Westlake; and Dr. Henry A. Wise. 

4. Applicants must receive a minimum score of 75 points to be considered for an interview. Points are derived from the following categories: GPA, Personal Statement, Community Service, and Letters of Recommendation. 

5. Letters of Recommendation must be submitted on official letterhead and must not be from family members. The Community Service Recommendation must be typewritten or computer generated and addressed to Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Scholastic Recommendation must be typewritten or computer generated and addressed to Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

6. Community service activities cannot be job related, done in the interest of family or self, or those for which the applicant is receiving a grade. A minimum of 15 service hours accumulated during your high school tenure are acceptable. 

Some examples of acceptable community service activities are:

• Feeding the homeless
• Registering voters
• Volunteering in local hospitals
• Tutoring/mentoring program
• Volunteering in church activities that provide services to individuals

        Such as: 

        o Tutoring/mentoring program

        o Preparing/delivering meals

        o Assisting senior citizens or the disabled

        o Volunteering with community-based public service organizations

Some examples of unacceptable community service activities are:

• Member of a sports team

• Member of a teen group (without volunteer service activities included)

• Church activities common to all churches 

  Such as: 

  o   Sunday school teacher 

  o   Singing in the choir

  o   Usher board member

Please note: If a candidate is awarded a scholarship, and all requested information is not received by July 31, 2026, the scholarship award will be null and void.

 

ONLINE GUIDELINES

1. Scholarship application may be submitted by completing and submitting the online fillable application by March 15, 2026. Applications received after the timestamp of 11:59pm (EST) on March 15, 2026 will be deemed ineligible.
2. The scholarship application packet including the applicant’s application, personal statement, and the two (2) recommendation letters (prepared by community service representatives/coordinators and staff/faculty members).
3. Transcripts may be unofficial so that they can be scanned and uploaded directly into the online application portal. If your school does not release transcripts to students, please have the counselor email the transcript to scholarship@dstfwac.org.

2026 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

2026 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION CONTINUATION

Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

 

PERSONAL STATEMENT

In this section we ask that you provide your personal statement. You may have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful you believe the application would be incomplete without it. Please share your story in an essay of at least 500 words. (Maximum of 3 typewritten pages, double-spaced, Arial or Times New Roman, 12 pt. font)

Scores will be based on content, style, and presentation. 

• 75% Content: Consider addressing the following elements in a clearly expressed personal statement:
  • Academic potential and skills
  • Current motivations and future aspirations
  • Personal skills and qualities
  • Work experience
  • Community service activities
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Awards and honors
• 25% Style and Presentation:
  • Does your writing indicate an ability to communicate well?
  • Is there creativity and enjoyment in your use of words?
  • Is your writing clear and error-free?

FWAC Scholarship Personal Statement Scoring Rubric

Response Rating Scale

3 points- Excellent     2 points-  Very Good   1 point- Satisfactory   0 points- Needs Improvement   

 

Criteria	Description	Points
Content/Ideas	Strong/creative introduction that captures readers attention “Paints a picture” for the reader Content clearly and completely addresses topic with use of relevant supporting details and examples Stays on topic and avoids random/unrelated ideas Topic is fully developed in an interesting and/or informative way that maintains readers interest
Organization	Writing is well organized, structured, and easy to follow Ideas presented in a logical order Excellent use of transitions Clear introduction, body, and conclusion Organization of sentences reflects purpose and audience
Word Choice	Precise, vivid, descriptive and/or interesting word choice Avoids overuse of certain words or phrases Use of advanced vocabulary, imagery, and/or sensory words; Incorporates a wide variety of words and phrases  (i.e., similes, metaphors, personification, etc.)
Voice	Developed a unique voice to show individual style of writing Voice reflects personality, feelings and/or knowledge about the topic Skillful and creative use of phrasing/words help develop and enhance writer’s voice Voice is fitting for the topic and engaging
Writing Conventions	Appropriate/correct spelling, grammar usage, punctuation and capitalization throughout the response; Avoids sentence fragments/incomplete sentences and/or run on sentences
Total Score

Both letters must be on official letterhead and must be typewritten/computer generated. Letters of recommendation prepared by community service representative/coordinator or staff/faculty members MUST have a signature and be uploaded directly into the online application portal. 

1. A community service letter from a community service representative/coordinator must include:

• how long the person writing the letter has known the applicant,
• the type of service provided by the student, and
• the total number of service hours (a minimum of 15 hours is required) provided by the student to the organization. (Please review the Application Guidelines page for some examples of acceptable and unacceptable community service.)

PLEASE NOTE: If the student provides community service within the school building, the letter must specifically identify the type of service provided and the total number of hours performed by the student. 

2. A scholastic recommendation letter from a staff or faculty member must include:

• how long and in what scholastic capacity the person writing has known the applicant,
• the student’s academic prowess, examples of their character, and
• the student’s desire to achieve in their post-secondary community and beyond.

 

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION CHECKLIST

This checklist is intended to be a friendly reminder. It does not override any instructions listed within the scholarship application. Please adhere to all detailed instructions contained within the application packet.

Take a few minutes to look over your application packet to ensure that you have included the following:

 

(Submit electronically no later than March 15, 2026)

Be advised that your application packet will become the property of the selection committee and will not be returned.