The King Scholar Program is a collaborative effort by the King Foundation and Sacred Heart Academy (SHA). Established in 1999, it creates opportunities for students who have financial need, academic potential and strong motivation. These deserving young women attend SHA, a blue ribbon college preparatory school located in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to maintaining high scholastic and behavioral standards, King Scholars participate in academic, cultural and leadership enrichment activities that help prepare them for success in life.
The amount of financial assistance provided to a King Scholar is dependent upon financial need and varies from student to student. In appropriate situations it may consist of full tuition and books for the scholarship recipient's four years at SHA. The King Scholar Program is open to all incoming ninth grade applicants who meet the program's requirements of financial need, academic ability and high motivation.
The original goal of the King Scholar Program was to offer an SHA education to fifteen girls who lacked the financial resources to attend the academy. Because of its unparalleled success, in 2001 the King Scholar Program was significantly expanded thereby allowing additional young women to attend Sacred Heart Academy and create a more racially and socio-economically diverse student body.
Girls are chosen as King Scholars because they have proven themselves to be special. They work long and hard to obtain a superior education. Each day they take responsibility for their lives.
King Scholars are introduced to exciting people, places, ideas, and events. They develop confidence, leadership and panache. The goal of the King Scholar program is to prepare girls to graduate from college and become independent women who will make lasting contributions to our community and world.
The King Scholar Program has offered a Sacred Heart Academy education to 55 young women who otherwise would have been financially unable to attend the academy. Thus far 44 King Scholars have graduated from Sacred Heart Academy. The remaining 11 King Scholars are presently attending the academy. The vast majority of King Scholars graduate college in four years and many continue their studies and earn graduate or professional degrees.
