Mary C. Rawlins Scholarship

Who Was Mary C. Rawlins?

Mary C. Rawlins, (1929-1995), was vested in improving the plight of all minorities. Mary was one of the founders of the Connecticut Association of Affirmative Action Professionals (CTAAAP) now entitled the Connecticut Association of Diversity and Equity Professionals (CADEP) and was founder of the Connecticut Caucus on Black Aged, Inc. In 1983, she was appointed by the Commissioner on Aging to serve on the State Department of Aging’s Minority Advisory Committee. The American Association of Retired Persons selected Mary to serve as a volunteer spokesperson for its’ Minority Affairs Initiative in 1990. Her wide-ranging commitment to people involved her in such organizations as the Urban League, NAACP, and the National Council of Black Women for Political Action.

Who is eligible to apply for the Mary C. Rawlins Scholarship?

Senior High School students who are Connecticut residents, with a 2.5 (C+) or higher GPA at the end of the Fall semester.

How do I apply and when is the deadline?

Click here for 2024-2025 Scholarship Application.

Or you may scan the QR code with your mobile device to complete the application.
Applications must be received by March 31, 2025.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
  Student must:
1. Complete application by clicking the link above. The application contains two essays.

Respond in 100-200 words: "Please explain a challenge you have faced in your life, how it affected you or changed you,

and what you did to overcome it."

Write an essay of between 250-500 words on the following topic, “Affirmative Action (AA) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs are being removed at the federal level, but many states including Connecticut still have state laws requiring their existence. Many have different opinions, but please explain your understanding of the purpose of affirmative action and EEO programs, and whether or not you feel it has made a positive impact on society. Please be sure to provide evidence to support your answer. You may use the following website for more information: You may use the following website for more information: https://aaaed.org/aaaed/History_of_Affirmative_Action.asp

2. Submit the three (3) required documents within 30 days of submitting the application, but no later than the March 31, 2025 deadline.
All required documents must be submitted together and attached to one email (a single attachment, PDF if possible, is preferred) with the student's name in the subject line, and sent to [email protected]. Only complete applications with all 3 documents will be considered. Some schools may have a policy that students are not to be privy to letters of recommendation. In this case, school representatives or school counselors may submit the required documents on behalf of the student.

Required documents:

Fall 2024 high school grades report
College/University acceptance letter from school you plan to attend.
A letter of reference from a school counselor, teacher or coach.

If you have any questions regarding the scholarship program please contact CADEP at [email protected]
Scholarship winners will be notified no later than May 16, 2025.