2026 MLK Scholarship recipient
In the small town of Ivanhoe, Va., situated along the New River in the Appalachian Mountains and home to approximately 500 residents, Boston College junior Brian Davids had his first opportunity to serve and give back to a community in need during a high school service trip. In the years that followed, service and civic engagement became an instrumental part of Davids’ life, and one that guided his decision to apply to Boston College.
On March 11, from his bedroom thousands of miles from BC, Davids dialed into the 44th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Banquet and heard his name announced as this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship winner. The emotion he felt? “Love,” he said.
“So many people reached out to me,” recalled Davids, who is studying in Madrid this semester. “The other finalists reached out, my friends, my parents, and my grandma sent me the video. So just love is what I experienced, really.”
The MLK Scholarship is awarded to the BC junior who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the African American community and African American issues both on and off campus. Davids was one of five finalists for the annual scholarship award [see sidebar]. He will receive $35,000 towards his senior year tuition and a $1,000 gift certificate to the BC Bookstore.
Reflecting on his life thus far and the many people who have had an impact on it, Davids noted that his greatest mentor has been his father, and so it was Conrad Davids who accepted the award for his son in Brian’s absence.
Conrad Davids accepted the award for his son, who is studying in Madrid. (Photo by Marcus Howard)
“Growing up, my dad wanted me to learn from him. He was always honest with me, selfless in his actions, and always there. Whether it was as my soccer coach or being a leader in the church I grew up in, watching him in leadership roles throughout my life has really inspired me to work hard and strive for greatness always, because he has given me these opportunities through sacrifice and dedication.”
Davids, a Glendale, Md., native and finance major in the Carroll School of Management, is co-founder of Black in Business at BC—a pre-professional club that aids Black students interested in business careers—a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Boston mentor, a member of the Black Student Forum, and a resident assistant.
While Davids makes an impact on the BC community through these endeavors every day, he relishes the experiences that have had a positive effect on him, and the people who helped him realize that his work makes a difference. One such person is Michael Davidson, S.J., program director of the University’s Montserrat Coalition, and leader of the Jamaica Magis service trip.
“I was influenced by Fr. Michael to take advantage of all the opportunities BC has to offer,” said Davids. “Given that my parents are Jamaican immigrants, Fr. Michael helped me understand the importance of going back and serving in a community that I find to be familiar.”
Working with the elderly in nursing homes and with teen mothers in the Mustard Seed Communities, Davids said the Jamaica Magis experience taught him about humility and perseverance. “I think it has shaped my experience at Boston College in terms of how I view my privilege and opportunities, and how I want to be able to give back in a greater capacity going forward.”
Last semester, Davids used these lessons to give back to his community through the student-facilitated Kairos retreat. He recalls the amount of preparation needed to be a Kairos leader and how it showed him that talking about life experiences with others can be beneficial.
“Kairos made it real for me that I have something to offer. People appreciated my experiences. The relatability aspect is important, too. As humans, we all go through similar stuff and being able to open up with one another is underrated; we don’t do it enough. I feel like many times we have surface-level, basic conversations with our friends and we’re not even really checking in on them in the ways we should. Kairos showed me that I can be impactful and make a difference by sharing my experiences.”
Davids said he is eager to accept the challenge this award signifies and will do so by taking on more leadership responsibilities within the clubs of which he is a member. He also hopes to lead another immersive service experience, such as Jamaica Magis, next winter. Upon his return from Madrid, Davids will join investment banking firm Evercore as an intern, where he will learn everything from how to think like an investor to world affairs.
As for incoming BC students, Davids has some advice.
“Put yourself in environments where you’re not going to be distracted, where you’re able to exercise the habits that are necessary to succeed in school. Don’t say no to any involvement. Do everything you can possibly do to put yourself in as many high-achieving groups as possible because, naturally, opportunities are going to flow through them. When you match those opportunities with your preparedness, you’ll be ready to handle anything that comes your way.”