ALKU Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Mass Mentoring

In 2015, Mark Eldridge, the CEO of ALKU and a board member of Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP), established the ALKU Scholarship. This scholarship, worth $30,000, is designed to support rising high school seniors in their pursuit of higher education. Mark's leadership and generosity have created an opportunity for young people to receive financial assistance as they strive to reach their full potential in their college careers.

ALKU and MMP have joined forces with the goal of enhancing the capacity of organizations to provide a wider network of support for young people. By offering financial resources, they aim to build on the opportunities that existing mentoring relationships have provided and to remove any obstacles that might hinder future academic, economic, or social success.

To be eligible for the ALKU Scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in a Massachusetts high school
• Be a rising high school senior (i.e., Class of 2026 / student will be a high school senior starting in Fall 2025)
• Intend to apply to a four-year, accredited institution to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in any field
• Have been engaged in a quality mentoring relationship for at least one year. This mentoring relationship can be with any adult, excluding the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, who provides caring, consistent guidance and support
• Demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to their communities

Since its inception in 2015, ALKU has collaborated with Mass Mentoring Partnership annually to award a $30,000 academic scholarship, or $7,500 per academic year, to a rising high school senior in Massachusetts. The recipient of this scholarship has been positively impacted by a youth-adult mentoring relationship for at least one year and intends to attend a four-year college or university.

At ALKU, we firmly believe in the transformative power of mentoring. Our company mission is to equip our employees with the tools and resources they need to grow their careers. By actively supporting the cause of mentoring, we can leverage our resources and the values we cherish to empower those who need support. We chose to focus on mentoring because of the profound impact that a single positive youth-adult mentoring relationship can have on a young person's life.

This scholarship offers young people the chance to apply for financial support as they strive to attend college and earn a bachelor’s degree. Each year, the ALKU Scholarship is awarded to one recipient, with the scholarship totaling $30,000 over the course of four years.

All application materials must be submitted online by 11:59 PM on September 25, 2025. Please note that late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application Guidelines & Criteria

Students are required to complete their own applications, although mentors may assist. Applicants must be enrolled in a Massachusetts high school and be a rising senior (Class of 2026 / student will be a high school senior in Fall 2025). They must also intend to apply to a four-year, accredited institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in any field, beginning in Fall 2026. Only students with an expected high school graduation date of 2026 are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Eligible applicants must have been engaged in a quality youth-adult mentoring relationship for at least one year. This mentoring relationship can be with any adult, excluding the applicant's parent or legal guardian, who provides caring, consistent guidance and support.

Applications must include a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s mentor. This letter should describe how the student has benefited from their mentoring relationship, what the young person’s educational goals and challenges are, and why they are deserving of this scholarship. Applicants should also upload a photograph of themselves with their mentor.

Please note that the photograph will not be shown to the review committee, but may be used in event materials if you are selected as the 2025 ALKU Scholar. If you are unable to provide a photo at this time, we will only ask you to provide one if you are selected. Applicants must have an average GPA of 2.75 or higher. If selected as a finalist, the applicant must provide a copy of their high school transcript verifying their GPA.

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Demonstrated need for scholarship
2. Clear desire, motivation, and passion to attend college/university (please indicate a post-secondary education plan, if applicable)
3. Establishment of impactful mentoring relationship
4. Demonstrated and detailed work and/or leadership experience outside of school (employment, internships, volunteer work, community involvement)

If awarded, Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) requires the following:

1. Signed ALKU Scholarship Award Letter of acceptance
2. Signed Media Consent Form (must be signed by parent/guardian if scholar is under the age of 18)
3. Attendance by scholar and mentor at Mass Mentoring Partnership’s signature Cheers to Mentoring event on November 18, 2025. At this event, Mark Eldridge, ALKU CEO and founder of the ALKU Scholarship, alongside other ALKU employees, will be there to present the winning scholar with the award.
4. Winning scholar will be expected to attend an annual meeting with previous ALKU scholarship winners.
5. Winning scholar must provide yearly updates on college GPA. Scholars must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 to maintain their scholarship award.

The scholarship must be used for the student’s educational pursuits, such as college tuition, books, or other necessary college expenses. The award will be disbursed in $3,750 increments, once per semester, over the scholar's consecutive four years in college, totaling $30,000. The scholarship funds must be used within four years, beginning in Fall 2026, and ending in Spring 2030. If necessary, a one-year extension may be granted. This request would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

We strive to make this application process accessible for all applicants. For any requests or needs regarding accessibility, accommodations, modifications, or specific preferences we should be aware of to ensure your experience is accessible, positive, and supported, please contact Olivia Taylor at otaylor@massmentors.org.