MLK Youth Leadership Awards

The University of Utah’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Leadership Award honors outstanding students from across the State of Utah, grades 7 through 12, for their dedication to the beliefs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through community service and leadership. Each Awardee is honored during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week held at the University of Utah.

Students grades 7-11^th are nominated and selected for the standard award, including a celebratory event hosted at the university along with a certificate of recognition, and U memorabilia. University of Utah scholarships will be offered to four high school seniors in addition to the standard awards.

Youth Leadership Awards 2023 Recipients

Congratulations to this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Leadership Award recipients! Thank you to everyone who participated in the nomination process.

Leticia Ocampo Duran
Dennise Garcia
Kennedy Hawkins
Elliot Helbling
Ivette Hernandez
Katie Kim
Achol Mayar
Gabriella Miranda
Anika Rao
Connor Ugaki Greally
Annabella Vasquez Leon
Adrian Zuniga

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Requirements

The MLK Youth Leadership Award Selection Committee may select a maximum of three high school seniors to receive a tuition scholarship from U Alumni. Students who receive the MLK Youth Leadership Award during their 7-11^th grade years may reapply, as new applicants, during their senior year of high school to compete for the scholarship. All scholarship disbursements will go through U Alumni. Students will be required to complete the necessary paperwork with U Alumni. All scholarship funds are subject to approval from U Alumni and/or University Advancement. Please review the specific requirements and details below.

Total scholarship will be $8,000 per student over four years ($2,000 per year).
The student must enroll at the University of Utah by August 2023 to receive the scholarship prize.
Scholarship funds are for tuition expenses only.
There is no financial need or academic requirement for the MLK YLA scholarship or standard award.
There is no academic requirement for MLK Youth Leadership Award.

Michael Kirklen Scholarship

The Michael Kirklen Scholarship will be awarded to one 12th-grade student who meets the criteria outlined below, in addition to the MLK Youth Awards nomination requirements. The scholarship annual award is $2,500, and will be awarded annually for 4 years (total of $10,000) and will qualify the recipient to receive additional "For Utah" federal and state-level match to cover their tuition costs. The scholarship will be initially awarded in the 2023 - 2024 academic year, and for three years thereafter.

To qualify for the federal and state-level match, the recipient of this scholarship must also meet the following criteria:

Recipient must be a Utah resident
Student must have a 3.2 GPA or higher
Recipient must meet Pell-Grant eligibility
- Students may complete the “Pell-Grant” estimator via this link: Pell-Grant estimator in lieu of submitting their FAFSA application

In the case none of the applicants or award winners meet these additional criteria, the scholarship will be awarded to a student who most closely matches this profile.

Recent Awardees

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

One U Thriving

Centers & Offices

Youth Leadership Awards 2023 Recipients

MLK Week

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Requirements

Michael Kirklen Scholarship

Recent Awardees

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016