Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation Application 2026

Please ensure the following materials are prepared prior to submitting your scholarship application. Applicants will be required to upload or provide all items listed below:

• Official High School Transcript

• Proof of Residency

• Completed Essay Submission

• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation, including recommender contact information

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5

• ACT or SAT score report

The Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation awards scholarship funds to African-American male high school seniors who reside in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois.

All completed applications will be reviewed by the Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation Grading Committee. Selected finalists will be contacted via email and/or phone to participate in a face-to-face interview.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:

1. Applicant must be an African-American male currently enrolled as a high school senior.

2. Applicant must reside in the Chicago area or Cook County.

   • Proof of residency is required and may include school transcripts, utility bills, government-issued identification, or other official documentation.

3. Applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

4. Applicant must submit official ACT or SAT scores.

5. Applicant must plan to attend a two-year or four-year college or university.

6. Applicant must submit a 500–750 word essay responding to the following prompts:

   • In what ways has the gun violence in Chicago affected you, your family, and your friends?  Keep in mind the affects that it has had on your safety, on economic development, and/or on social dynamics.  In your response, consider the psychological, social, and economic consequences of living in a city marked by high levels of gun violence.   

   • Despite the impact, how will you leverage the situation to create a positive impact in your community?

7. Applicant must provide an official copy of their high school transcript.

8. Applicant must submit two (2) letters of recommendation that include the recommender’s contact information.

   • Acceptable recommenders include, but are not limited to: teachers, principals, counselors, spiritual leaders, mentors, or employers.

Notification and Award Requirements

• Scholarship recipients will be notified via email by May 25, 2026.

• Applicants who are not selected or named finalists will not be contacted.

All scholarship recipients are required to attend and participate in the Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation Awards Gala & Fundraiser on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at the Windcreek Casino and Resort.
**Failure to attend or participate in the gala will result in forfeiture of scholarship funds.**