Whitney M.
Young, Jr.
Scholarship
2016 Application
Empowering Communities. Changing Lives.
New York Urban League
204 W. 136th St.
New York, NY 10030
212-926-8000
www.NYUL.org
collegeready@nyul.org
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Guidelines
Eligibility Requirements:
A candidate must be:
1. A resident of New York City and of African-American, Latino, or Native American background
2. A current high school graduate or recipient of a High School Equivalency Diploma
3. Accepted as a full time and first-term matriculating freshman at an accredited college or university in pursuit of a Baccalaureate or
Associate degree at the time the award is presented
4. A person who demonstrates strong potential for academic achievement
5. Of excellent character and proven leadership ability, with a demonstrated commitment to community service and extra-curricular
activities
NOTE: Family* members of the National Urban League and Urban League affiliate employees, as well as Advisory Board members are
disqualified from entering the scholarship program.
*(Family is interpreted to mean immediate family members which include children, grandchildren and siblings).
Scholarship Awards
Awardees are eligible for one of the following scholarships to be paid in two disbursements, one before fall semester
and another before the spring semester of freshman year.
FALL SEMESTER
SPRING SEMESTER
(a) WHITNEY M. YOUNG, JR. SCHOLARSHIP - $3,500
OR
(b) INCENTIVE AWARD - $1,500
$1750
$1750
$ 750
$ 750
Application Requirements
Scholarship applicants must provide the following:

A completed Application and Resume (summary of work experience, extra-curricular activities, community service, and awards
received)

High School Transcript, including verification of a cumulative average of at least 80, or an average TASC/GED score of 2800

Two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s character, participation in school, community and extra-curricular
activities (one letter must be from a School Principal, Teacher, or Guidance Counselor)

A typed, scholarly essay, based on original research and consisting of 500 words, that will address one of the following
questions: (please include the essay question selected at the top of your essay)
Essay A - With the average student loan debt hovering around $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree, many question if college is a
good investment. Why are you seeking a university education? What makes a college degree worth the investment for you?
-OR-
Essay B - Whitney M. Young Jr. was a staunch civil rights activist and spent his career fighting for equal access in economics and
politics for the urban poor. Please share an instance where you have been a change-agent in your local community and how it
impacted your personal growth and development.
-OR-
Essay C - As a young adult, what do you think is the civil rights issue of your generation that public figures and politicians need
to address for your future?
Scholarship finalists will be contacted for an interview.
Applications will be accepted from January 4, 2016 through April 1, 2016
(All application materials must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2016)
Send Completed Application and Required Materials as one application to:
New York Urban League / Education Department
204 West 136th Street
New York, NY 10030
Attn: Whitney M. Young, Jr. Scholarship
Download additional Applications at www.nyul.org
Updated as of 1/7/16
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Application
(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT CLEARLY AND DETACH FROM BOOKLET)
N AME: _________________________________ EMAIL: _______________________________________
HOME ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________
CITY: __________________________________ STATE: ________ Z IP CODE: ______________________
TELEPHONE: (
)_____________________ DATE OF BIRTH: ________________________________
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FAMILY SIZE: ___________________________ N UMBER OF SIBLINGS: ____________________________
N UMBER OF SIBLINGS IN COLLEGE: _________________________________________________________
N AME OF PARENT(S) OR GUARDIAN : ________________________________________________________
RELATIONSHIP TO STUDENT: ______________________________________________________________
O CCUPATION (S): ______________________________________________________________________
ETHNICITY:___________________________________________________________________________
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HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDING: ______________________ BOROUGH: __________________________
GRADE POINT AVERAGE:
9TH GRADE _________
11TH GRADE ________
10TH GRADE: _______
12TH GRADE (1ST SEMESTER) _______
INDICATE FIVE (5) SCHOOLS YOU HAVE OR INTEND TO APPLY TO : _____________________________
___________________________________________ _________________________________________
___________________________________________ _________________________________________
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University or COLLEGE YOU WILL START IN THE FALL: __________________________________________
COLLEGE LOCATION : (CITY) __________________________________ (STATE) _____________________
ANTICIPATED MAJOR(S): _________________________________________________________________
CAREER INTEREST: _______________________________________________________________
PLEASE LIST AWARDS AND HONORS YOU HAVE RECEIVED:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS RECEIVED:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
WHICH ESSAY ARE YOU WRITING?
□ ESSAY A
□ ESSAY B
□ ESSAY C
Whitney M. Young, Jr.
As executive director of the National Urban League (1961–
1971) Young focused on gaining equality for blacks in business
and politics and improving opportunities for the urban poor. He
appealed to corporate leaders to support job programs, lowincome housing, and education for African Americans. He also
promoted huge government spending — a “Domestic Marshall
Plan” — to address the country's racial issues. Young advised
presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon on race. Graduating
from Kentucky State College in 1941, Young served in the army
during World War II and then went on to earn a MA in social
work in 1947 from the University of Minnesota.
Whitney M. Young began his association with the National
Urban League in 1947, serving as the industrial relations
secretary of the St. Paul, Minnesota branch until 1949. That
same year he moved to Omaha, Nebraska to assume duties as
executive secretary of that branch. In 1954 he was named dean
of the Atlanta University School of Social Work. He held the
post until 1961, when he rejoined the NUL. The NUL expanded
from 60 chapters to 98 under Young's leadership. The group
also cosponsored 1963's March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom.
Bio courtesy of infoplease.com
New York Urban League
204 W. 136th St.
New York, NY 10030
212-926-8000
www.NYUL.org
collegeready@nyul.org
Affiliated with
“EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES, CHANGING LIVES”