The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Rock Island, has opened up applications and nominations for its yearly opportunity to recognize youth achievement and community service. The deadline for all submissions is Friday, Dec. 19.
The MLK Center is seeking submissions for the following:
- M.L. Lockhart Scholarship: Named for the center’s first director, this scholarship is for Rock Island High School seniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue higher education. The application is available online.
- Youth Expression Contest: Students from elementary through high school are invited to submit a poem, spoken word piece, essay, short story, song, dance, or short skit related to the 2026 memorial service theme, “A Time for Vigorous and Positive Action.” Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped off at the center at 630 9th St. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- “I Have A Dream” Award: This award honors a current or former Rock Island citizen who has demonstrated exemplary community service and made a positive, lasting impact. The application and a list of past winners are available online.
Recipients and honorees will be recognized at the 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service and Awards Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The service will be held in the MLK Center’s Ida Robinson Banquet Room and livestreamed on YouTube (@MLKCenterRockIsland) and Facebook .
For more information, call (309) 732-2999 or visit mlkcenter.org. More details are available on the site under the “Memorial Service & Awards in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” event tab.
