Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA)

"My #1 recommendation is to begin your application ahead of time.

You’ll most likely have many things going on as a college student while completing your application, and it’s so easy to push things aside just because you have a couple of months before the deadline.

Don’t let yourself fall into this trap :)."

-- Arian, Green River College

“If your school has a writing center, use it. I got help from wonderful people who helped me clarify my essays and resume so that I could apply with a fully flushed out and complete application.

Be honest with your experiences and how they shaped you. While there are only so many words to explain who you are and where you are going, being honest and straight forward pays off and helps you know yourself a bit more.”

-- Christopher, Whatcom College

"I want to start off with good luck and mentioning how deserving you are of help and support.

Recognize how hard you have worked to get to the point you are at now and know that the challenges you have faced are no small thing. Be genuine and vulnerable, it pays a lot to be authentic and it makes it easier to write the essays when you channel from within.

Find a good support system, whether that is family, friends, books, music, anything that will motivate you through the process.

Overall tell a story that truly encapsulates the strength and commitment you have, through every question and essay."

-- Evelyn, Edmonds College

 "Tell your story—even if you think it’s not unique. There is always something about your journey that makes you special and sets you apart. Focus on how your background or experiences position you to make a difference. Start early, be genuine, and get feedback. Most importantly, remember: your obstacles are not setbacks. They are proof of your resilience, and they will drive you forward."

-- Jennifer, Everett Community College

"Do not be afraid to tell your story. Be willing to be vulnerable and talk about your life experiences and how they have shaped you...Practice your interview, be prompt and listen to the questions carefully."

-- Susan, Highline College

"The number one tip I would give to future students who want to apply for this scholarship is to ask yourself the hard questions. Truly try to think about who you are as a person and what you want to accomplish in life.

Don’t worry about comparing yourself to others as comparison is the greatest thief of joy as I have learned while completing my application.

You do belong here and have put in much time and effort to getting to this point."

-- Isaias, Columbia Basin College

Although demonstrated financial need will be a consideration in awarding scholarships for both of these scholarship programs, it is not an eligibility requirement. We recognize that attending college full time can be a huge financial burden, even for those who are supported by family and/or employed, but with lots of other responsibilities.

The Martin Family Foundation is interested in assisting individuals who will have a positive impact in their communities. This goal is not intended to limit a candidate’s chosen field of study in any way. Lots of people with diverse backgrounds are making a difference every day, either through their volunteerism, their chosen career, their engagement with family, their communities, etc.

For the Martin Honors Scholarship, applicants complete an application form, including unofficial transcripts and at least one letter of recommendation. A review committee composed of UW faculty and staff members reviews all applications and selects a small number of finalists to interview with the Martin Family Foundation Board in September. The Board makes the final determination of scholarship recipients within one day of the interviews.

For the Martin Achievement Scholarship, applicants complete an application form, including unofficial transcripts and at least one letter of recommendation. A review committee composed of UW faculty and staff members reviews all applications and selects a small number of finalists to be interviewed by the Martin Family Foundation Board in May. The Board makes the final determination of scholarship recipients within one day of the interviews.

Because there are such a small number of scholarships available, and so many impressive community college students doing outstanding work and planning to transfer to UW Seattle, both the Martin Achievement and the Martin Honors Scholarships selection processes are exceptionally competitive. It is highly recommended to invest time into drafting and revising your application materials thoroughly, getting feedback from mentors and supporters along the way. 

In a typical cycle, the Martin Honors Scholarship program receives ~150 applications for the 2-4 scholarships available. The Martin Achievement Scholarship program has historically been much smaller, given the earlier timeframe involved, with ~20 applications each year for the 2-4 scholarships available. For those who can plan ahead, the Achievement Scholarship is a good opportunity!

Advice for any scholarships, not exclusive to the Martin Family Foundation Scholarships:

• Only students who apply for scholarships, are selected for scholarships.

  • STRATEGY: Instead of thinking about how competitive a scholarship is, consider how competitive YOU are for this specific  scholarship. What connections do you have with the program mission and/or selection criteria?

• It takes practice!

  • STRATEGY: Apply for scholarships all along the way. You change as you learn more and hone your interests. Therefore, the scholarships that align with your goals will change along the way.

  • You get better at applying the more you practice applying. 

  • It's true that you won't get selected for everything you apply for. Building resilience through putting yourself out there is important to all aspects of your future. There are no guarantees, except that not applying guarantees you can't be selected.

The Martin Achievement Scholarship provides:

• $5,000 to be used during the final year of full-time enrollment at the community college.
• Upon successful admission to UW Seattle, the scholarship will then provide $12,000/year for 2 or 3 years of full-time enrollment at UW Seattle (depending on graduation planning).
• Recipients must remain in good academic standing and must be enrolled full-time during the regular academic year (fall, winter, spring).

The Martin Honors Scholarship provides:

• $12,000/year for 2 or 3 years of full-time enrollment at UW Seattle (depending on graduation planning).
• Recipients must remain in good academic standing and must be enrolled full-time during the regular academic year (fall, winter, spring).

Though the number can vary, during each application cycle, the Board is typically selecting 2-4 new scholars.

At any given time, the Martin Family Foundation is supporting ~25 scholars.

Students selected as Martin Achievement or Martin Honors scholars join a community of scholars at the UW and beyond. Martin Scholars get together at least twice/year to share their experiences with each other, learn about resources and opportunities from each other, and meet peers, alums, and others who can provide support and guidance at UW. We encourage scholars to keep in touch with us and with each other after graduation from UW.

We will need to address this for you internally. Using the email address designated in your application (so we can confirm your identity), please email scholarq@uw.edu with specific details about the changes you need to make (which recommender needs to be changed/updated). Most likely, we will need to delete the recommender information in question, to allow you to edit those details again.

First, please double-check that you’ve entered their email address correctly in your application. Using the email address designated in your application (so we can confirm your identity), please email scholarq@uw.edu with specific details about which recommender is having the issue. We will be able to resend the instruction message to them.

Don't panic! Your information is not gone. It is very common for applicants to accidentally log into the application with different login credentials (your browser logs you in automatically using your gmail or other account credentials), which actually starts a brand new application, rather than accessing the application already in-progress.

Please try logging into your application using a different browser or in a private/incognito window so you can force the application system to let you log in with the credentials you choose. Often that does the trick to get you into your existing application.

If problems persist, please email scholarq@uw.edu with specific details about the problem, including screenshots if relevant.