Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

Some students are simply born leaders. Tracy Downs ’88 was one such student. In 1987, as president of CLU’s Black Student Union (later the African American Student Union), he led the charge to establish a scholarship in the name of Martin Luther King, Jr. The club’s advisor was Cassandra Sheard, a strong African-American woman who shared her values and organizational skills with Tracy and the other students with whom she worked.

By working to establish the scholarship, Tracy hoped to challenge students of African American heritage to emulate the qualities and principles associated with Dr. King. Recipients were to be selected on the basis of their academic record and an essay focusing on a theme chosen by the office of educational equity. Any African-American student enrolled at CLU was eligible to enter the scholarship competition.

This scholarship is notable in the manner in which it continued to grow and finally attained endowment level. Due to the persistence and dedication of the students and their advisor, the scholarship fund received contributions from many different sources—faculty, two CLU vice presidents, several pastors, the dean of students, staff from the Student Life and Financial Aid offices, and even a local contractor. Most of these contributions were small gifts, but they were gifts given in support of the legacy of Dr. King and the desire to make a difference. The scholarship was endowed in 1991.

Tracy, in his push to create and firmly establish the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship, followed his own principles after he graduated. He became a medical doctor specializing in urology. At a speech on campus a few years ago, he encouraged students to embrace God’s plan for their lives and to realize they can make a difference in the world.