City of Columbia accepting nominations for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards

The City of Columbia is accepting applications, ranging from elementary, middle, and high school students for the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards. The Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards program recognizes exemplary displays of committed service to the tenets of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The ideals of social responsibility, political empowerment, diversity, racial harmony, nonviolence, and unselfish service must be demonstrated voluntarily by the nominee in support of his or her community and fellow citizens.

Nominees must be age 18 or younger, and enrolled in a Richland School District One elementary, middle or high school with a minimum 2.5 grade point average. To be eligible for the $1,000 scholarship, high school students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Scholarship levels and amounts:

High School Awards (9-12) 500 words: 1^st place- $1,000.00, 2^nd place- $500.00, 3^rd place- $250.00

Middle School Awards (6-8) 250 words: 1^st place- $250.00, 2^nd place- $175.00, 3^rd place- $100.00 

Elementary School Awards (k-5) 100 words: 1^st place-$100.00, 2^nd place- $75.00, 3^rd place-$50.00

Please see the application:

Applications must be returned by the following methods:

• By mail to: City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, Attn: Douglas Elliott, 1111 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC 29201.

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, December 5, 2025.

• Submit completed application as a PDF file to [email protected] by Friday, December 5, 2025

For more information, please contact Doug Elliott, Deputy Director for Recreation, at (803) 545-0456 or [email protected] or visit www.columbiasc.gov.