The Momma D
Award
A $1,500 annual scholarship honoring the legacy of Carole "Momma D" Kennerly — and presented to one Ethos student-athlete who lives the four pillars of the Legacy Plan.
It started at her dinner table.
The Momma D Award honors the life, love, and legacy of Carole Kennerly — known to a generation of student-athletes simply as Momma D. As Vice Mayor of Berkeley, California, and the mother of Ethos founder Michael Davis, she shaped not only her own son but every young man who came through her door.
Momma D's living room was the original Ethos Village. She fed her son's UC Berkeley teammates around the kitchen table, brought professionals and mentors home to meet them, and pushed them — often for the first time in their lives — to see themselves as more than athletes. Her question was simple and impossible to answer easily:
What if it doesn't happen — or if it does happen, what's next?
— Carole "Momma D" Kennerly
That single question is the seed of the Legacy Plan. It is the foundation of identity beyond performance, of vision beyond the obvious path, of values that hold steady when circumstances shift. Every applicant for the Momma D Award is being asked to answer Momma D's question with their life.
The Momma D Award is presented annually to a current Ethos student-athlete who demonstrates the four pillars of the Legacy Plan in action — not as a performance, but as a way of being. The award honors the woman who built the original village of support and the curriculum that grew out of her kitchen table.
Four pillars. One way of being.
Every component of the Momma D Award — eligibility, application, scoring, and recognition — is anchored in the four pillars Momma D taught her son and his teammates to live by.
Identity
Knowing who you are beyond titles, sports, and roles.
Purpose
Understanding why you do what you do.
Values
The principles that guide your decisions when no one is watching.
Vision & Goals
Where you are going and how you plan to get there.
The award & recognition.
A $1,500 award paid directly to the recipient — or to the recipient's parent or legal guardian if the recipient is under 18 — following the award announcement. Enrollment in college, vocational school, or any other program is not required; how the funds are used is the recipient's decision. Ethos Education Group may request a completed IRS Form W-9 and a signed acceptance letter before the funds are released.
Beyond the scholarship, the recipient receives:
- Public announcement at the 2nd Annual Ethos Golf Tournament, Brookhaven Country Club, on October 19
- Personalized Momma D Award certificate
- Featured video showcase across Ethos Village & social channels
- Permanent entry on the Momma D Honor Roll page
Eligibility requirements.
Applicants must meet all of the following. Eligibility is verified directly through the Ethos Village platform.
- Current Ethos student-athlete in the 12th grade — a high school senior in the 2026–27 school year
- Active Ethos Village account in good standing as of September 30
- Successful completion of the Ethos Legacy Plan course
- Earned the Black Apple with Platinum Stem recognition
- Legacy Plan video uploaded to the applicant’s Ethos Village profile (the award judges will pull this directly from the profile — no separate upload required)
- One letter of recommendation submitted with the application
- Complete application submitted by the September 30 deadline (11:59 PM CT)
Note: An applicant whose Village account, course completion, recognition, or Legacy Video cannot be verified as of September 30 will not be considered. The recommendation letter is required for the application to be reviewed.
Key dates.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September 11 | Application Site Live |
| September 12 | Applications Open |
| September 30 — 11:59 PM CT | Submission Deadline |
| September 30 – October 5 | Committee Review |
| October 1 – October 5 | Finalist Interviews (Top 3) |
| October 19 | Award Announcement 2nd Annual Ethos Golf Tournament, Brookhaven Country Club |
Five components. One story.
Plan to spend a few hours on this. Strong applications come from real reflection, not polish.
Applicant Information
Basic identifying details, school, and Ethos Village username for eligibility verification.
Short-Response Questions
Four short answers (~150 words each). Quick snapshots of who you are — not a deep narrative.
Essay
One prompt, 750–1,000 words. The deep narrative — your answer to Momma D's question.
Letter of Recommendation
One letter (150–300 words) from an adult who is not a family member. Required for review.
Legacy Plan Video
Pulled directly from your Ethos Village profile. No separate upload required.
Ready to honor her legacy?
The Momma D Award is for the student who answers Momma D's question with their life. If that's you, we want to hear from you.
Begin Your Application