Morris King & Hodge Driver Safety Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Morris King & Hodge
Texting while driving is a major safety threat on roads across the United States. To raise awareness about the risks and to encourage practical solutions, Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., is proud to sponsor the 12th Annual Driver Safety Scholarship. The firm will award three scholarships to 2026 high school graduates from the following Alabama counties — Dekalb, Franklin, Lawrence, Colbert, Cullman, Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan — as well as to rising freshmen at Alabama colleges and universities who live in those counties. Applicants must submit an original written or video essay that explains the dangers of texting and driving and proposes realistic steps to curb this dangerous behavior. Remember: sending texts while driving diverts a driver’s eyes from the road, hands from the wheel, and attention from driving safely.
Purpose and prompt
How can we educate our community about the hazards of distracted driving, and what concrete actions would significantly reduce accidents caused by distracted driving? We want inventive, well-informed responses from young people who care about road safety.
What to submit
- Written essay: minimum 1,000 words.
- Video essay: 5–6 minutes in length.
Submissions may adopt a serious or light-hearted tone, but they must be informative, original, and practical. Judges seek creative, well-researched entries that present fresh approaches to preventing texting-while-driving incidents.
Suggested approaches and inspiration
- Interview a person who has been involved in a distracted driving collision and summarize what you learned.
- Consider technological or policy solutions that haven’t been widely tried.
- Be imaginative when describing the problem and your proposed remedies.
Who may apply
This scholarship is open to:
- High school seniors graduating in 2026 who reside in Dekalb, Franklin, Lawrence, Colbert, Cullman, Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, or Morgan counties; and
- Freshmen entering Alabama colleges or universities who are residents of those same counties.
Evaluation and selection
A panel from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., together with affiliated reviewers, will evaluate entries. Submissions will be assessed on accuracy of facts, content quality, grammar, organization, style, and originality. Judges will favor clear, logically structured essays supported by evidence or thoughtful reasoning.
Notification and public announcement
The three finalists selected by the judges will be contacted using the information provided on their application. Winners will be publicly announced.
Scholarship awards
Three top essays will receive scholarship awards.
How to apply
Apply using our online form. Before submitting, be sure you have included all required materials:
1. Your completed essay (written, 1,000+ words) or video essay (5–6 minutes).
2. Proof of enrollment or graduation status (unofficial transcript or most recent grades/report card).
3. A headshot.
About the sponsor
Based in Huntsville, Alabama, Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., is committed to improving safety across the state and supporting students pursuing higher education. We value young people as vital members of our communities and seek to help them reach their academic and career goals.
We look forward to your ideas and wish all applicants the best of luck.