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MC 2024 Application

The MC 2024 application open NOW!

Interested in applying? Please click the link below that is applicable to you (e.g. rising 9/10 students complete the 9/10 application and rising seniors or juniors complete the Junior/Senior MC application).

FAQs

Memphis Challenge was founded in 1989 by Joseph “Pitt” Hyde. Our mission is to coach high-achieving students of color through leadership and professional development. We are committed to ensuring that this city’s most talented students achieve academically, grow as leaders, and bring their education, expertise, and connections back to Memphis, TN.

Memphis Challenge provides students with a foundation for a future of confidence, preparedness, and personal success. Our student community is one of goal-oriented and aspiring leaders from across Shelby County, and our programming covers soft-skill topics necessary for an enhanced world view. Also, our service projects encourage creativity and collaboration, resulting in lasting learning experiences.

As Juan Carlos Alvarado-Arguello (MC Class of 2018) stated, “With the resources and experiences Memphis Challenge has offered me, I will be able to succeed no matter where life takes me.”

There is no cost associated with participation in the Memphis Challenge program. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and we are funded by corporate partners, grants, and contributions from our board, alumni, and friends.

In order to be a Challenger in Good Standing with the program, students are asked to attend monthly workshops from September through April. There are also optional programming experiences available throughout the year, such as the Tell Me A Story Service Project Series.

The Memphis Challenge 9/10 Movement exposes Freshmen and Sophomore students to the skills needed to perform at a high level of academic success and community leadership. Our workshops are designed to coach students through the middle school-to-high school transition and keep them motivated with enriching activities.

To learn more about the 9/10 Movement, please visit our 9/10 MOVEMENT page.

The Junior MC and Senior MC programs offer professional development workshops, as well as engaging learning experiences. We coach Junior and Senior students on skills to help them in professional and academic life, as well as give them opportunities to develop themselves as leaders. We also help Juniors, Seniors, and their families navigate the world of college applications and the college decision-making process.

To learn more about the Junior MC/Senior MC programs, please visit our JUNIOR MC or SENIOR MC pages.

  • Students Who Are:
    • Current Residents of Shelby County, TN
    • Students of Color
      • African-American, Hispanic, Latino/a, Asian-American, Native-American
    • Entering 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th Grade in the Fall of 2024
  • Rising Freshmen
    • History of Academic Achievement
      • There is no set GPA requirement for Rising Freshmen.
    • Leadership Capabilities and Interests
    • A Desire to Better Themselves as Students and Leaders
  • Rising Sophomores
    • Minimum 3.5 GPA
    • Leadership Skills and Experiences
    • A Desire to Better Themselves as Students and Leaders
  • Rising Juniors
    • Minimum 3.5 GPA
    • Proven Leadership Skills and Experiences
    • A Desire to Better Themselves as Students and Leaders
  • Rising Seniors
    • Minimum 3.5 GPA
    • Minimum 25 ACT or 1200 SAT Composite Score
    • Proven Leadership Skills and Experiences
    • A Desire to Better Themselves as Students and Leaders

If you have any questions regarding the Memphis Challenge program, please email [email protected] or call 901-467-3702.