JAMES CALVIN DODD SR AND MARY EMMA DURHAM DODD SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship submission window for the 2024-2025 school year will open January 7th and close March 1st. 

Click HERE to apply! 

This scholarship was established in loving memory of James Calvin Dodd, Sr. and Mary Emma Durham Dodd who were long-time residents and community leaders of Cobb County and Marietta, Georgia, by their family and friends.  The scholarship honors the life, legacy and servant leadership of both James, Sr. and Mary Emma Dodd by recognizing a Marietta High School student who intends to pursue a college education at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college/university.

James Dodd Senior was born in and attended Paulding County schools, moving to Cobb County in his early adult years.  Mary Emma Durham Dodd was born in Cobb County.  She and James, Senior were married and settled in Marietta, Georgia in 1936.  The 15 children of this union attended the Lemon Street School (Marietta City Schools); with ????? graduating from Lemon Street High School prior to desegregation.  Mary Emma, as was common for women of her era, was a homemaker and provided domestic services to families in the Marietta area.  James, Senior worked as a farmer prior to working for the Bell Bomber Plan (currently Lockheed Aircraft).  In 1945, he purchased 10 acres of land on Tower Road in the Elizabeth Community of Marietta; establishing himself as the first black building and real estate contractor in Cobb County.  James Street in the Elizabeth Community still bears his name.} Although post-secondary opportunities were not options for them, James Dodd Senior and Mary Emma Durham Dodd encouraged their children and grandchildren to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school, believing that education to be a critical component for future generations' success.

The Dodd family's intent is that the James Calvin Dodd, Sr. and Mary Emma Durham Dodd Scholarship will inspire a Marietta High School student to actively pursue post-secondary opportunities to further their educational and/or career goals.

Requirements

Students applying for the scholarship must meet the following minimum criteria:

• ≥ 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Service Leadership (10+ hours of documented community service)
• Application to an accredited college/university (term following high school graduation)
• 2 letters of recommendation (1-teacher/guidance counselor, 1-personal/non-family)
• Hand-written letter of interest and intent, not to exceed 2 pages.
• Interview