John Lennon Endowed Scholarship

The John Lennon Endowed Scholarship program was established by Yoko Ono in the memory of her late husband, the entertainer John Lennon, in partnership with UNCF. The scholarship program is designed to provide scholarship support to deserving students attending one of the 37 UNCF member institutions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants for John Lennon Endowed Scholarship program  must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Possess a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”) form.
Have a demonstrated, unmet financial need as verified by their college or university.
Be enrolled full-time at one of the 37 UNCF member institution,
Majoring in Communications, Mass Communications, Mass Media Arts, Music and Performing Arts
Application Requirements

For consideration, applicants must submit the online application complete with the following required application materials by the application due date of November 30, 2025:

Current academic transcript.
Two letters of recommendation, one academic and one Community or Employment.
A maximum 2000 character essay on statement of career interest related to applicant’s field of study.
Letter of Recommendation/Reference Requirement

Two letters of recommendation (one academic and one Community or Employment) are required to complete this application. The letter of recommendation must be completed through the online application system; and must be received by the application due date of November 30, 2025.

Emailed letters of recommendation will not be accepted.

Applicants will receive an “Invite References” reminder, until a recommender is invited.

Award winners will receive up to $5,000 based on need in for the academic year of 2025-2026. John Lennon Endowed Scholarship program is annually renewable based on availability of funds and provided students continue to meet the above eligibility requirement.

Recurring students who received the John Lennon Endowed Scholarship in the prior year may not need to complete this application process. A separate communication regarding the renewal process will be sent to their email.