Eligibility
Heritage: Korean American students studying in the United States.
Enrollment: Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time in a university in the United States during the scholarship application year.
Application: The committee will read the application and distribute funds based on the quality of the application and need demonstrated. Students who have demonstrated excellency in their application and field of study will be given preference. More than 10 applicants will be selected. Scholarships up to $3,000 will be rewarded to students.
Starting this year, we will give preference to new applicants over returning applicants. If you are a returning applicant, feel free to apply but note that new applicants will be given preference in the award of scholarships.
Application Instructions
Papers & Documents to Submit
Email the following to KayLee@KayLeefoundation.org with a subject line beginning with your last name and then your first name no later than application deadline December 26, 2025. Please email all application materials in one email. Recommendation letters can be sent as they are ready. We will primarily base selection from the essay in the application. Please note that we will not be accepting any paper applications. All applications must be emailed. The scholarship recipients will be announced on January 2, 2026.
- A completed & signed application form (click here to download the form). Save the file as YourLastName-FirstName-KL-7th-Application.xlsx
- A 1200-1500 word essay in PDF- Name the file as YourLastName-FirstName-Essay.pdf (see below for the essay question)
- Certificate of Current Enrollment Verification
- An official Transcript- Please have this sent to the foundation email address
- A recommendation letter by a professor/teacher of either current school or prior school (Emailed directly to us by the professor)
- A resume
- Your prior year tax return
- A passport-style photo taken within past year
Essay Topic: Unity Through Sport: Can FIFA or the Olympics Build Peace Between Formerly Communist and Democratic Nations?
Since their founding, major international sports institutions — such as the Olympic movement and FIFA — have promoted ideals of peace, friendship, and cooperation across national borders. These missions take on particular meaning in regions historically divided by ideology. Korea’s experience illustrates the power of sports diplomacy: from joint marches under a unified Korean flag to inter-Korean collaboration in international football.
In a 1200-1500 word essay, evaluate how effectively the Olympics and/or FIFA have fostered peace between nations with different political systems, particularly those once separated by the Cold War — including North and South Korea. Where have these organizations helped reduce tensions, and where have they struggled to create lasting impact beyond the symbolic?
Then, propose one concrete and innovative initiative — Olympic- or FIFA-related — that could strengthen understanding and reconciliation in divided or formerly divided societies.
Your proposal should include:
1) Who it involves (athletes, youth, fans, officials, media, or specific countries)
2) The mechanism of peace-building (dialogue, cultural exchange, joint participation, shared teams, educational programs, etc.)
3) Why it has meaningful potential to contribute to long-term peace