2026 L.M.O. Foundation Scholarship Application

Scholarship Application Instructions

Thank you for your interest in our scholarship opportunities. Please read the following instructions carefully. All application materials are due no later than 11:59 PM CST on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For questions, please contact us via email at lmoscholarshipcommittee@gmail.com.

All applicants must complete the following ONLINE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM.

Students may apply for all scholarships for which they are eligible; however, individuals will not be awarded more than one scholarship in a given year. Each scholarship is a one-time award, meaning they are non-renewable. Please see each scholarship description and eligibility requirements below:

• Gladys Lewis HBCU Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who plans to attend or currently attends a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or Predominantly Black Institution (PBI).
• Jessie M. Shaw Merit Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who has a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a four-point scale.
• Claudette McFarland Winstead Need-Based Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates a significant need for additional financial assistance. Applicants must provide documentation verifying financial need, such as a Federal Student Aid Report or other relevant documents showing a gap between expenses and available funding sources.
• Valerie Jones-Bland Education Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a student who is pursuing a degree in education, instructional studies, or a closely related field. Applicants should demonstrate a passion for teaching and a commitment to fostering knowledge, development, and empowerment through education.

Applicants must meet the follow eligibility criteria:

• A FEMALE college student attending an accredited four-year college or university in the United States, OR a graduating high school senior in the City of Chicago who plans to attend a four-year college or university beginning in Fall 2026.
  A high school or college student with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a four-point scale, or 3.75 or higher on a five-point scale
  Applicants should demonstrate evidence of community service or involvement, which may include volunteer work, leadership roles in community organizations, or other relevant activities.
  Applicants must not have a familial relationship with a member of the L.M.O. Foundation.
  Preference will be given to residents of Illinois.

All applicants are required to submit an essay as part of their application materials. This year’s essay prompt is as follows: 

Describe an experience, inside or outside the classroom, that significantly changed how you see yourself or the world. What did you learn from it, and how has it shaped the way you approach your education and future goals?

The essay should be typed and double-spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font. Essays are limited to a maximum of 500 words. 

Your essay should contain only true information and your own original content. You should not use artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, to write any portion of your essay. If you include a quote or text written by any other person or published in any printed or online format, you must surround the copied text in quotation marks (") and indicate the original source of the text. Any submission containing false, plagiarized, or AI-generated material as part of your application will result in automatic disqualification for awards and render you ineligible for future opportunities with the L.M.O. Foundation.

Applicants must submit two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s character, interpersonal skills, academic achievement, and community involvement. At least one letter must be from a dean or school administrator, teacher or professor, academic advisor, community leader, or supervisor. Letters from family members or peers will not be accepted.

Letters must be addressed to the LMO Scholarship Committee.
Generic letters or letters addressed to other organizations may not be accepted.

Recommended salutation: “Dear LMO Scholarship Committee,”

Signed letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically by the recommender to lmoscholarshipcommittee@gmail.com using their professional email address.

All applicants must submit an unofficial school transcript in the application form. If selected, you will be required to provide an official transcript and/or verification of enrollment.

You are encouraged to start working on your application as soon as possible as it may take several weeks to obtain letters of recommendation and complete all application material. Please follow up with any recommenders to ensure they understand all requirements and deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered and there will not be any exceptions or extensions. 

All application materials must be received by 11:59 PM CST on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered or reviewed.

Thank you for your interest in applying to the Leadership Mentoring Opportunities Foundation scholarships!

I certify that the information in this application is true, complete, and accurate, and that all statements and essays are my own work. Should I receive a scholarship or award, I hereby give permission to the Leadership Mentoring Opportunities Foundation, Inc. to utilize my name or information in any publicity or marketing materials. I agree if any information in this application is found to be misrepresented, I will return all monies awarded to me if requested by the Leadership Mentoring Opportunities Foundation, Inc.

DISCLAIMER: By typing your name in the box below, you are signing this application electronically. You agree that your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual signature on this application.