Karen Dorsey Knight Presidential Scholarship
Scholarship Overview: High school senior attending St. Elizabeth High School, a New Castle County Private School, or current HBCU college student desiring to major in Business, Education, or Nursing with a 2.8+ GPA.
Deadline Date: February 28, 2027
Scholarship Details:
Diamond State Pearls, Incorporated (“DSPI”) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Membership in DSPI is exclusive to active members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter of the Newark, Delaware chapter. DSPI is pleased to offer multiple scholarships in honor of the accomplishments of instrumental women affiliated with Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter.
Karen Knight is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter, as well as the current President of Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter. She is a passionate advocate for thriving in education.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must demonstrate high scholastic achievement wishing to pursue higher education at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
- Applicant must be a high school senior attending St. Elizabeth High School, a New Castle County Private School, or current HBCU college student desiring to major in Business, Education, or Nursing
- Applicant must have a GPA of 2.8 or higher
- Applicant must reside in New Castle County, Delaware
- Applicant must be well-rounded with involvement in at least one sport or one extra-curricular activity
Scholarship Process:
- Complete Application. It is imperative that the application be completed in full.
- One Reference Letter. Your letter should accompany your application. Be certain the letter contains the writer’s contact information for verification.
- Essay. An essay from the applicant explaining why they should be selected as a scholarship recipient.
- Proof of college acceptance or current student enrollment. A letter of college acceptance or program acceptance is required for receipt of funds.
- Most recent high school/college transcript (official).
- Please submit a recent photo (preferably graduation pic or headshot) at the time of submission for use on our social media platforms. If you do not want your picture posted, let us know.
Scholarship Selection Process:
- Completed applications that meet the criteria must be submitted electronically via JotForm February 28, 2027.
- Applicants will only be notified if they are selected.
- Applicants must accept the scholarship on or before April 15, 2027; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the scholarship.
Application Requirements: Delaware Residents Only, Essay, Letter(s) of Recommendation, Minimum GPA, Transcript
Essay Details:
Applicants must explain why they should be selected as a scholarship recipient. It should demonstrate a clear organizational structure, well-developed ideas, and proper grammar. If references are used, citations must be included. All documents must be named using the format “Lastname_DocumentName” (e.g., Rodgers_Essay).
Award Amount: Multiple Awards
Award Details:
DSPI is pleased to offer multiple scholarships in honor of the accomplishments of instrumental woman affiliated with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter. Range of scholarship awards. Scholarship awards may be less than $1,000 and some may exceed $1,000.
Website/URL: https://form.jotform.com/dspischolarships/2026-dspi-scholarship-application
Scholarship Manager Information:
Contact Name: Shealese P. Russell-Reams
Contact Email: diamondstatepearls@gmail.com
Contact Phone Number: (302) 513-8760
Additional Contact & Submission Information:
1. Completed applications that meet the criteria must be submitted electronically via JotForm by February 28, 2027 (no exceptions).
2. Applicants will be notified if they are selected.
Filters:
Eligibility: Minimum GPA/Class Rank
Areas of Study: Education & School Supports
Applicant’s Current Education Level: High School Senior, College Student
Location Specific: New Castle County
Institution Type: Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs)