Who Can Apply:
- The Joe D. Martin, Jr. North Star Scholarship was created to honor perseverance, promise, and purpose. Joe was raised near North Nashville’s 37208 zip code, an area rich in history and culture but burdened by systemic inequities. Though he was bright, athletic, and a student leader, Joe could not attend college due to financial barriers. This scholarship continues his dream by helping students from North Nashville access the education he never had the chance to pursue.
- All four of Nashville’s historic HBCUs—Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, and American Baptist College—are located within the 37208 zip code. Yet many residents nearby cannot afford to attend. The area is among the most impoverished in Tennessee, a food desert, and, according to the Brookings Institution, “the most incarcerated ZIP code in America.” With so many barriers to higher education that is literally next door, Joe’s mission is to help make college a reachable goal.
- Any Black high school senior, graduate enrolling in college, or current undergraduate student from the North Nashville area (37208 preferred) who plans to attend or is currently attending Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, or American Baptist College may apply.
- Applicants with a 3.25 GPA or higher, or those who have lost a parent or sibling to gun violence or have currently or formerly incarcerated parents, will be given preference.
Submission: To apply, tell us about yourself and how you plan to make a difference in Nashville through your future career.
Deadline: February 21, 2026
Amount: $500
Learn More: https://bold.org/scholarships/joe-d-martin-jr-north-star-scholarship/
