DEARBORN — Under the auspices of the American Arab Center for Civil and Human Rights (ACCHR), ADC Michigan is pleased to announce that its 13th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Award Reception will be held on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 6:00 pm (location TBA) in commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday, black history month and ADC’s 13th Anniversary of this historic program.

 As the only program of its kind in Michigan, ADC hopes to continue to expand the MLK Scholarship Program.  The MLK Planning Committee has mailed out fliers to area high schools detailing the criteria required for the written essays, in which participating students are asked to explain what the message of Martin Luther King, Jr. means to them. Depending on the funding made available from various corporate and community sponsors, the judging committee selects a specific number of students to receive scholarship awards.  ADC Michigan urges all eligible students to participate in this unique program which has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships over the years.  For more information on this program, to serve on the planning committee, or to inquire about sponsorship, please call the ADC Office at 313.581.1201.

 “This annual essay contest held in King’s memory has grown into one of the more notable and interesting celebrations of King’s life in Metro Detroit.” said the Detroit Free Press

 “The dual goals of the program are to provide Arab American and Chaldean American high school students with college funding and to educate them about the ongoing struggle for civil rights,” said The Detroit News.

 The essay submission deadline is Tuesday, January 17, 2012.  This essay contest is open to high school seniors of Arab or Chaldean descent.  Students are urged to obtain information from their school counselors or from the ADC Michigan office.

Each sponsorship and donation will increase the amount of scholarships awarded to students during the event.  To become a sponsor or to donate, please contact the ADC Michigan office at 313.581.1201 or email adcmichigan@adc.org.  Sponsorship deadline is January 17, 2012.