In 1990, Racine Mayor Owen Davies convened the Racine Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Commission which, in turn, established this scholarship in 1994. Its two primary goals were to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to the New World, and to establish a perpetual scholarship fund from which annual scholarships of $1,000 would be awarded to students of Racine County high schools to further their education. 

Criteria:

• Be a senior from (rotates between the following schools):
  - Walden III
  - The Prairie School
  - Catholic Central
  - Burlington
  - Union Grove
  - Racine Lutheran

• Pursue an undergraduate education at an accredited college or university 

• Show outstanding academic scholarship in history