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Program Description

The John S. Martinez Leadership Scholarship program is specifically designed to help Hispanic high school students achieve educational success. This program has been implemented within the fourty three (43) states and territories that have Hispanic state legislators. The award will be provided to a total of 11 Hispanic public high school students; no more than two (2) recipients shall be selected per state.

This effort has been implemented in collaboration with Hispanic state legislators in the states and the schools based in their respective districts. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MONDAY, JULY 22, 2019.

Each recipient will be selected by an independent evaluation committee. The one time $3,000 scholarship will be provided to the student upon graduation from high school and acceptance into a 4-year college/university.

Criteria & Eligibility Rules

To be eligible for the NHCSL John S. Martinez Leadership Scholarship, each student must meet all of the following criteria:

  • The student must be Hispanic or of Hispanic descent.
  • The student must reside in the district of a Hispanic State Legislator.
  • The student must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
  • The student must be a junior (11th grade) or senior (12th grade) who is enrolled full-time at a public high school in the District of a Hispanic State Legislator.
  • The student must be nominated by their school principal, teacher, guidance counselor, legislator, or community leader.
  • The student must have a resume (please include honors/distinctions, awards, community involvement and projects) , an academic transcript, (2) letters of recommendation (principal, teacher, school counselor, Hispanic state legislator, community leader, supervisor), please include pertinent details regarding student's hardships and environment.

A personal statement (500 words) answering one of the five questions below:

  1. How has overcoming life's adversities helped you to pursue your goals and ambitions; and how have you utilized your weaknesses to accomplish them?
  2. If you could implement one piece of legislation in your local community what would it be and why?
  3. What does public service mean to you?
  4. How has the Hispanic culture influenced the person you are today?
  5. How has your environment shaped the leader in you and how do you plan on continuing to grow within your community and university?