The Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is pleased to announce the 2026 Scholarship Program.

Please note: Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Debutantes and children (by birth, adoption, marriage, and/or by legal guardianship) of Charlotte Alumnae Chapter members are not eligible to apply for these scholarship awards.

 Common Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a student enrolled in a Mecklenburg County high school
• Award disbursement will be based on verified college enrollment for Fall 2026
• Must submit two letters of recommendation online
• Applicants may upload letters of recommendation online with this application submission or provide the letter of recommendation link to recommenders.
• Must verify your GPA by uploading your most recent official high school transcript which reflects your current cumulative GPA. Specifically, your uploaded transcript MUST include your grades and your cumulative GPA from the first semester of your senior year. If we do not receive this information, your application will be disqualified.
  
• Must submit an essay on one of the topics:
  • As a leader, what strategies would you use to work with individuals who have different viewpoints?
  • What book or books have affected you deeply? Explain why.
  • Artificial Intelligence is increasingly shaping education. How has AI impacted your academic experience, and what opportunities or challenges do you believe it creates for students? Discuss both the benefits and potential drawbacks.
  • Hardships are more a part of life for some than others. How we respond communicates a lot about each individual. Share how you are making strides toward overcoming challenges in the areas of academics, leadership, and/or community service.

• In addition to the above, there are scholarship specific requirements to which applicants must adhere:

  Scoggins/Shadd "Breaking Barriers" Scholarship (non-renewable, one-year award)

  • Must be a graduating African-American senior in high school that identifies as a female
  • Must be a student enrolled in a Mecklenburg County high school
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Must demonstrate financial need (please refer to the Federal Government Poverty Guidelines) by completing Section V of the application and uploading verification of income
  • Must upload your financial information.
  • Must plan to attend an accredited four-year institution of higher education in the U.S. during the upcoming academic year

  Frances Selena Johnson "Making Strides" Scholarship (non-renewable, one-year award)

  • Must be a graduating African-American senior
  • Must have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher and have shown significant improvement in your academics, social engagement, emotional intelligence, or community engagement over a two-year period (transcript must reflect two years of high school grades)
  • Must plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year institution of higher education in the U.S. during the upcoming academic year
  • At least one letter of recommendation must be from someone who can speak of the applicant's academic performance (e.g., a teacher or academic counselor)

  Daisy Spears Stroud "Academic Achievement" Scholarship (non-renewable, one-year award) 

  • Must be a graduating African-American senior in high school that identifies as a femaler
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
  • Must plan to attend an accredited four-year institution of higher education in the U.S. during the upcoming academic year

Please scan a certified copy of your high school transcript and upload it below.  

List all current and past extracurricular activities you participated in during high school. Extracurricular activities are voluntary activities outside a regular academic curriculum, like clubs, sports, student government, part-time jobs, music/ the arts, etc.

For each activity, include: Name of the activity and the high school years you participated (FR = Freshman, SO = Sophomore, JR = Junior, SR = Senior) in the format indicated in the example below.

Example:

• Varsity Soccer (SO, JR, SR)
• Science Club (FR, SO, SR)
• YBLA (SR)

List all current and past leadership positions you held during your high school years.

For each leadership role, include Name of the activity or organization, your leadership title or role, and the high school years you served (FR = Freshman, SO = Sophomore, JR = Junior, SR = Senior).

Example:

• Student Council — Vice President (JR)
• Student Council — President (SR)
• Varsity Soccer — Team Captain (JR)

List all current and past community service activities - include volunteer activities you have performed for the community while in high school.

For each community service activity, include: Name of the activity and the high school years you participated (FR = Freshman, SO = Sophomore, JR = Junior, SR = Senior)

Example:

• Food Bank Volunteer (FR, SO)
• First Ward Community Park Clean-Up (JR)
• Classroom Central Schools Supplies Sorting (FR, SO, JR, SR)

Please scan and upload any and all documents to verify your household income for Tax Year 2025.  This can include IRS forms, e.g. W-2, 1040, 1099. 

If you are providing a 1040, please only scan the first two pages of this document.

Before uploading and submitting your household income verification documents, please redact, white out or delete any social security numbers from your documents.  Do not provide any documents that include your or your parent(s)/guardian(s) social security numbers.

NOTE: Tax Forms for years others than 2025 do not provide sufficient documentation of household income and will not be accepted to meet the financial verification requirement.

Please choose one of the following easy topics and write an essay between 300 and 500 words. The essay must be submitted electronically using this form; it can not be submitted separately. We will not accept any hard copies of essays.

*You may copy and paste text into this form (i.e., you may type your essay in a Word document then cut and paste your essay into the space provided below).  You can not attach a Word document in the space provided.

Every applicant must provide two letters of recommendation from two adults who are not related to the applicant by blood or by marriage. (Examples of who can provide letters of recommendation: counselor, volunteer supervisor, teacher, church representative or community representative). Letters of Recommendation are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 15, 2026. Please inform those submitting letters of this due date.

The Scholarship Committee will not accept hard copies of any letters of recommendation. Letters received after the March 15, 2026 deadline will not be accepted.  

Applicants may upload letters of recommendation with this application submission or provide the letter of recommendation link to recommenders. With the link, recommenders can upload the letter of recommendation by March 15, 2026. Delta Scholarship Letter of Recommendation Link

X. Scholarship Selection(s)

Below you will indicate the scholarship(s) for which you are applying. You may apply for multiple scholarships. However, you must select one scholarship at a time and complete a few questions before selecting the next scholarship.

APPLICATION DUE BY 11:59 P.M. ON MARCH 15, 2026.

Please print and retain a copy of this application before submitting the application for your records and to verify your submission.  

Once you submit your application, you will not be able to go back and retrieve a copy to modify or revise. You may only submit your application one time.  We will not accept updated or modified applications.

If there are any questions regarding the above application or the application procedures, please email the Scholarship Committee at scholarship@charlottedst.org