2026 Marie Marshall Higher Education Teacher's Scholarship

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, will award $2,000 for the Marie Marshall Higher Education Teacher’s Scholarship. The Marie Marshall Higher Education Teacher’s Scholarship will be awarded to an applicant who demonstrates a passion for service, education, and influencing and impacting the future generation. The applicant must be a full-time student in his/her junior year or higher for the 2026-2027 year majoring in Education, attend Bowie State University or the University of the District of Columbia, and have taken at least one core class within the Education major. FWAC-DST will provide payment of the scholarship award directly to the university where the recipient is enrolled, on behalf of the recipient, for the 2026-2027 academic year. FWAC-DST scholarship money may only be used to pay tuition, room and board, and fees. Students may apply for the Marie Marshall Higher Education Teacher’s 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 is only valid in the name of the original recipient; it cannot be transferred. The scholarship can only be granted for the academic year following the award.[1]  

FWAC-DST’s Scholarship Committee will evaluate candidates based on academic achievement, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. All candidates must hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 as verified by an unofficial transcript.

All items listed below must be returned to FWAC-DST. Failure to include all items will result in your application being deemed incomplete:

1. Typed and signed application via the online application portal.
2. Personal Statement – In a personal statement, please discuss your desire to teach elementary school and how you arrived at such an important decision. (Maximum of 3 typewritten pages double-spaced, Arial or Times New Roman, 12 pt. font);
3. Two (2) letters of recommendation: (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. The letter must specify a relationship or capacity in which s/he knows or has observed the applicant. Both letters must be typewritten/computer generated, dated, signed and addressed to Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.;
4. Unofficial transcript uploaded via the online applicatin portal. Transcripts must clearly show student name and ID number.
5. Applications must received electronically no later than March 15, 2026.  Applications received electronically after this date WILL NOT be considered. Incomplete applications WILL NOT be considered. 
    

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] 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.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

1. Applicants must be a United States citizen and a resident of the State of Maryland or Washington, D.C. 

2. The entire application package must be typewritten or computer generated. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.

3. To be eligible to apply for the FWAC-DST Marie Marshall Higher Education Teacher’s Scholarship, applicants must be classified as at least a junior full-time student at Bowie State University or the University of the District of Columbia majoring in Education.

4. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.

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 10 service hours accumulated January 2025 through the present are acceptable. 

Some examples of acceptable community service activities are:

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

        Examples include:

• Tutoring/mentoring program
• Preparing/delivering meals
• Assisting senior citizens or the disabled
• Volunteering with community-based public service organizations

Some examples of unacceptable public service activities are:

• Church activities common to all churches

        Examples include: 

• Sunday school teacher, singing in the choir, or usher board member,
• Member of a sports team
• Member of a teen group (without volunteer service activities included)

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 must 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.

 

FORT WASHINGTON ALUMNAE CHAPTER

DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED

2026 Marie Marshall Higher Education Teacher's Scholarship Application

(Must be Typewritten/Computer Generated or Emailed to the Scholarship Committee)

FWAC-DST 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

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION CONTINUATION

Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

 

PERSONAL STATEMENT

(Maximum of 3 typewritten pages, double-spaced, Arial or Times New Roman, 12 pt. font)

In a personal statement, please discuss your desire to teach and how you arrived at such an important decision. 

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 can be uploaded to this 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 10 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.)

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.