2026 SM-LAC Scholarship Application

2026 Scholarship Application

Please read all instructions carefully before beginning. You are responsible for the accuracy of all information provided.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, you must:

Be a graduating high school senior
Have a minimum 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Reside or attend high school in one of the following areas:
- DeKalb County: Lithonia (30038, 30058), Pine Lake (30072), Stone Mountain (30083, 30086, 30087, 30088), Stonecrest (30038, 30058)
- Gwinnett County: Centerville (30078), Lilburn (30047, 30048), Loganville (30052), Snellville (30039, 30078), Stone Mountain (30087)
- Rockdale County: Conyers (30012, 30013, 30094), McDonough (30252), Stockbridge (30281)
- Walton County: Loganville (30052)

Important Dates

Event	Date
Application Opens	First week of December 2025
Application Deadline	February 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Finalist Notifications	Mid-March 2026
Finalist Interviews	March 30 - April 3, 2026
Award Announcements	April/May 2026

Application Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Application Tips

Start early – Don't wait until the last minute to complete your application
Plan ahead – Use school breaks (such as winter break) to work on your materials
Request recommendations early – Contact your recommender well in advance of the February 15 deadline and follow up to ensure you receive the recommendation in time.
Proofread carefully – Review all answers for accuracy and completeness before submitting
Check your email regularly – Watch for important notifications from the committee
Ask questions – Contact scholarship@smlacdst.org with any questions

Scholarship Criteria

This is a merit-based scholarship. Awards are determined by the following criteria:
- Academic Achievement – Submit your high school transcript including first semester senior year grades
- Essay – Up to 500 words
- Leadership Experience
- Community Service
- Letter of Recommendation – Must be on official letterhead from a teacher, administrator, community leader, or employment supervisor (relatives cannot provide recommendations)
Selection Process

Submission does not guarantee selection. All applications are evaluated using a standardized rubric that assesses:
- Alignment with scholarship criteria
- Clarity and quality of responses
- Demonstrated effort and achievement
Only applications that meet or exceed rubric standards will advance to the interview stage. We encourage you to submit your strongest work, well-prepared applications increase your chances of selection and build valuable skills for future scholarship opportunities.

All materials must be submitted by February 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Incomplete applications will not be considered, NO EXCEPTIONS.
About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

Applicant Information
Applicant Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast Name
Applicant Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Applicant Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.
Applicant Email*
example@example.com
Parent/Legal Guardian Full Name*

First NameLast Name
Parent/Guardian Phone Number *
Please enter a valid phone number.
Parent/Guardian Email*
example@example.com
Please indicate if your mother is a member of the Stone Mountain - Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.*

Yes, she is a member of SM-LACNo, but she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.No
Are you related to any member of SM-LAC (other than your mother)? If yes, provide the member's name and relationship. If no, type "No".*
About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

School Information
Name of Current High School*
School Counselor's Name*

First NameLast Name
School Counselor's Email Address*
example@example.com
Grade Point Average (4.0 Scale) *
Enter your cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have a minimum 2.7 cumulative high school GPA.
Transcript

Please upload your official or unofficial high school transcript that includes your first semester senior year grades. You may use a copy from your school's student portal.

Transcript File Naming Requirement:
Please rename your transcript file as LastName_FirstName_Transcript before uploading.

Example: Smith_Shawn_Transcript
Upload File - Please Upload Your Official or Unofficial High School Transcript (PDF)*

Upload your transcript including first semester senior year grades. PDF format only. Unofficial transcripts from your school's student portal are acceptable.
Cancelof
Please list the schools for which you have applied. *
Use line breaks (press "enter" after each school/line) to organize your submission.
Please list the schools in which you have been accepted.*
Use line breaks (press "enter" after each school/line) to organize your submission.
Prospective Major*
Prospective Occupation*
About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

Extracurricular Activities

Instructions

List extracurricular activities, organizations, and clubs from your high school years. Include school-based activities (sports teams, academic clubs, student government, etc.) and activities outside of school (youth groups, music/arts programs, etc.). If you participated in the same activity for multiple years, list it separately for each year.

How to complete each column:

HS Extracurricular Activity – Name of the activity, club, or organization (Example: Varsity Basketball, National Honor Society, School Newspaper)

High School Classification – Select the grade level when you participated (Example: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior)

Participation Dates – Start and end dates for that specific year in mm/yyyy format (Example: 08/2021 thru 05/2022)

Leadership Position (if applicable) – Title or role held that year; leave blank if none (Example: Team Captain, Vice President, Editor)

Example of how to list multi-year participation:

HS Extracurricular Activity	High School Classification	Participation Dates (mm/yyyy thru mm/yyyy)	Leadership Position (If Applicable)
Varsity Basketball	Freshman	08/2021 thru 05/2022
Varsity Basketball	Sophomore	08/2022 thru 05/2023
Varsity Basketball	Junior	08/2023 thru 05/2024	Team Captain
Varsity Basketball	Senior	08/2024 thru 05/2025	Team Captain

Important:
DO NOT list the same activity, club, organization, or group in both the Extracurricular Activities section AND the Community Service/Volunteer Work section. You will only receive credit once.

Example: If you list Beta Club as an extracurricular activity, do not list it again as volunteer work.

Choose the section where each activity best fits, no duplications allowed.

Extracurricular Activities*

	HS Extracurricular Activity	High School Classification	Participation Dates (mm/yyyy thru mm/yyyy)	Leadership Position (if applicable)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15

About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

Community Service & Volunteer Work
Instructions

List community service and volunteer activities from your high school years. Include volunteer work with organizations, churches, community programs, tutoring, food drives, fundraisers, and other service activities. Indicate the organization name, brief description, total service hours and dates served.

Important Reminder: DO NOT list activities already included in the Extracurricular Activities section. Each activity should only be listed once.

Community Service & Volunteer Work*

	Organization Name (Example: Habitat for Humanity)	Brief Description (Example: Built homes for families)	Total Service Hours (Example: 25 hrs.)	Dates Served (mm/yyyy thru mm/yyyy) (Example: 06/2025 thru 08/2025)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

Honors, Awards, & Recognition
Instructions

List any honors, awards, or recognition you received during high school.

If you did not receive any honors or awards, type "N/A" in the first row and leave the other fields blank.

Honors, Awards, & Recognition*

	Award/Honor Name (Example: AP Scholar Award)	Awarding Organization (Example: College Board)	Year Received (Example: 2024)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

Essay
Essay Instructions

Write a 300-500 word essay on one of the three topics below. Your essay will be assessed on your ability to clearly communicate your thoughts and ideas.

At the top of your essay document, include the topic number and full question you selected (example: "Topic 1: What is the biggest issue facing your community...").

Essay Topics

Topic 1: What is the biggest issue facing your community and what resources would be necessary to resolve the issue?

Topic 2: Are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs needed in schools, colleges, and the workforce? Why or why not?

Topic 3: Teacher quality is an important factor in student achievement. Describe the attributes of your favorite teacher and the impact he or she had on your academic achievement.
Please Select Your Essay Topic*

Topic 1Topic 2Topic 3
Essay File Naming Requirement:
Before uploading, rename your essay file as LastName_FirstName_Essay_Topic1,2,or3
Example: Smith_Shawn_Essay_Topic1
Upload File - Please Upload Your Essay (PDF)*

Upload your 300-500 word essay in PDF format only. Remember to include the topic number and question at the top of your document.
Cancelof
About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

Letter of Recommendation
Letter of Recommendation Instructions:

Upload one letter of recommendation from a teacher, administrator, community leader, or employment supervisor. Your reference cannot be a relative, and you are responsible for providing accurate contact information.

The letter must:
- Be on official letterhead
- Be signed by your reference
- Address your qualifications for this scholarship
Recommender Full Name*

First NameLast Name
Recommender Title/Position*
Recommender Organization*
Recommender Email*
example@example.com
Recommender Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Letter of Recommendation File Naming Requirement:
Before uploading, rename your letter as LastName_FirstName_Recommendation
Example: Smith_Shawn_Recommendation
Upload File - Please Upload Your Letter of Recommendation (PDF)*

Cancelof
About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.

Certification
Please read carefully and complete the information below to certify your application.

Statement 1: Accuracy Certification

I certify that all information provided in this application is true, complete, and accurate, and that all statements and essays are my own work. I understand that a scholarship award from the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. may be denied or revoked if any information is found to be inaccurate.
I agree to the accuracy certification statement above*

YesNo
Statement 2: Marketing Permission

If I receive an award, I understand that the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. may want to use my name, photo, and award amount in publicity and marketing materials.
Please Select One*

Yes, I give permission and have approval from my parent/guardian to be included in marketing materialsNo, I prefer not to be included in marketing materials
By signing and submitting this application, I agree to the terms stated above.

Sign this form by typing in your first and last name as entered on the Applicant Information page of this form
Applicant Signature*

Applicant First NameApplicant Last Name
Date*

MonthDayYear
Before You Submit
Please review the checklist below to ensure your application is complete.

☐ I have uploaded my high school transcript including first semester senior year grades (PDF format, named: LastName_FirstName_Transcript.pdf)

☐ I have uploaded my essay (PDF format, named: LastName_FirstName_Essay_Topic1,2,or3.pdf)

☐ I have uploaded my letter of recommendation on official letterhead (PDF format, named: LastName_FirstName_Recommendation.pdf)

☐ I have completed all sections: Personal Information, Academic Information, Extracurricular Activities, Community Service, Honors & Awards

☐ I have reviewed all information for accuracy and completeness

☐ I have provided accurate contact information for my school counselor and recommender

☐ I have checked the certification box and agreed to the terms

☐ *All required fields (marked with * ) are completed
Once you click Submit, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please contact scholarship@smlacdst.org
About Save & Return Later: It is NOT NECESSARY to create a Jotform account to save your progress. Once you click "Save and Return Later," click the "Skip Create an Account" link at the bottom of the pop-up. You will be prompted to enter the email address where you would like to send the link to your draft.
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2026 Scholarship Application

Eligibility Requirements

Important Dates

Application Tips

Scholarship Criteria

Selection Process

Applicant Information

School Information

Transcript

Extracurricular Activities

Instructions

Community Service & Volunteer Work

Instructions

Honors, Awards, & Recognition

Instructions

Essay

Essay Instructions

Essay Topics

Letter of Recommendation

Letter of Recommendation Instructions:

Certification

Before You Submit

Please review the checklist below to ensure your application is complete.