2026 Mel Brown McGinnis Legacy Arts Scholarship

2026 Mel Brown McGinnis Legacy Arts
$2000 Scholarship

Scholarship Guidelines:

This scholarship may be used at any accredited four-year College or University. (Trade, Technical and Cosmetology Schools are ineligible).

Eligibility:
- African-American high school senior attending school in Tarrant County or Grand Prairie, Texas, or the surrounding DFW Metroplex,
- Aspires to pursue a college degree in literary arts (English Literature, poetry, fiction, journalism, communications, speech, drama, creative writing), performing arts (music, dance, film, drama or arts which are performed for an audience), or visual arts (painting, drawing, photography, digital or graphic design, filmmaking, architecture)
- Minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Demonstrated interest in Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts
- Involvement in community/ extracurricular activities
Application Packet:
- Completed application
- Two letters of recommendation from a non-relative who can speak to your college readiness and leadership ability within a club, organization, UIL group, or with a community service project.
- Proof of SAT or ACT score
- Official transcript with Unweighted GPA on 4.0 scale emailed by your high school counselor or sent from an electronic system to academic@arlingtoneducation.org
- Completed and signed Student Profile Form emailed by high school counselor. CLICK HERE FOR 2026 ACADEMIC PROFILE
- Essay - Minimum 500 word typed essay, 1” margin, doubled spaced, 12 point - Times Roman font style on the topic:
  
  What role do you see literary arts, performing arts, or visual arts, playing in shaping the future of our country, and how do you see yourself fitting into that role?
The complete application packet is due by 11:58 pm CST on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Finalists MAY BE required to attend an interview via Zoom. Interview notifications will be sent the week of Monday, March 8, 2026.

Scholarship winner will be announced at the AISD Family Expo and Resource Fair on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

***SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WILL BE DISBURSED DIRECTLY TO THE AWARD WINNER UPON SECONDARY ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION***

For more information, please contact: academic@arlingtoneducation.org
BASIC INFORMATION
Student's Full / Legal Name*

First NameLast Name
Student Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry
Student Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Student Alternate Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Student E-mail*
Gender
Parent/Guardian Name
Parent/Guardian Relationship
Parent/ Guardian Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Parent/Guardian Email
example@example.com
Parent Guardian Address (If different from above)

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

List names of all school and community activities. If you volunteered for community service, list the name of organization and the number of hours or years volunteered.

Activities (Include school, church, community or youth groups)

	Organization	Activity	Total Number of Hours or Years (9th-12th)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Total Activity *

Community Service (Include Activity, Organization, & Total Hours)

	Organization	Activity	Location	Total Community Service Hours
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Total Community Service Hours*
LITERARY OR PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE

Provide evidence of your interest in the literary arts or performing arts (e.g. yearbook editor, finalist in a poetry contest, participation in Speech club, theater experience, orchestra, etc.)

	School/Organization	Experience	Total Number of Hours/Years
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

ESSAY

Topic:

What role do you see literary arts, performing arts, or visual arts, playing in shaping the future of our country, and how do you see yourself fitting into that role?

Essay must include:
- Min. 500 words - Max. 1,000 words
- 1” margin, double-spaced
- 12 point - Times Roman font style
- The use of AI or ChatGPT is strictly forbidden. Essays utilizing this format/software will be disqualified.
Upload Essay

Browse Files

Cancelof
ACADEMIC PROFILE

2026 Academic Student Profile
- This form must be completed, signed, and submitted by your high school counselor or uploaded below.
- Official High School transcript emailed by your high school counselor or sent from an electronic system to academic@arlingtoneducation.org
College/ University Planning to Attend
Intended Major*
Unweighted GPA (4.0 scale only)*
High School
High School Counselor

First NameLast Name
High School Counselor Email
example@example.com
High School Counselor Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Upload ACT/SAT scores

Browse Files

Cancelof
REFERENCES

Provide two letters of recommendation from a non-relative who can speak to your college readiness, and leadership ability within a club, organization, UIL group, or with a community service project. Please upload letters below:
Referral's Name #1

First NameLast Name
Referral's Email #1
example@example.com
Referral's Phone Number #1

Area CodePhone Number
Upload Letter of recommendation #1

Browse Files

Cancelof

Referral's Name #2

First NameLast Name
Referral's Email #2
example@example.com
Referral's Phone Number #2

Area CodePhone Number
Upload Letter of Recommendation #2

Browse Files

Cancelof
How did you hear about this scholarship?
Submission Time

MonthDayYearHourMinutesAM/PM Option
Should be Empty:

BASIC INFORMATION

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES