News Summary
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has announced 120 finalists for the 2023-24 Scholar-Athlete Awards, celebrating student-athletes who excel academically and athletically. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the awards, with 32 winners to receive $2,000 scholarships. The MHSAA emphasizes fairness in scholarship allocation by school classification, recognizing outstanding dedication to sports and academics among Michigan’s youth.
Michigan High School Scholar-Athlete Award Announces 120 Finalists for 2023-24 School Year
In a fantastic celebration of both brains and brawn, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has revealed the exciting list of 120 finalists for the prestigious Scholar-Athlete Awards for the upcoming school year of 2023-24. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the awards program, which is proudly presented by Farm Bureau Insurance.
A Legacy of Achievement
Since its inception back in the 1989-90 school year, the Scholar-Athlete Awards have recognized the exceptional achievements of student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically. This winter, an impressive 32 outstanding individuals will be honored from schools that participate in at least one sport with a postseason tournament. Each recipient of the Scholar-Athlete Award will be awarded a scholarship worth $2,000.
With a stunning total of 928 scholarships handed out throughout the program’s history, this initiative continues to shine a spotlight on remarkable young talent across the state.
How Scholarships Are Handed Out
Scholarships will be allocated based on school classification, ensuring a fair distribution across different categories:
- Class A: 12 scholarships (6 female, 6 male)
- Class B: 8 scholarships (4 female, 4 male)
- Class C: 6 scholarships (3 female, 3 male)
- Class D: 4 scholarships (2 female, 2 male)
- Additionally, 2 at-large scholarships will be awarded to minority recipients, regardless of their school size.
The process encourages schools to submit applications, allowing each MHSAA member high school to put forth as many applications as there are scholarships available for their classification.
Spotlight on Finalists
Kudos to those schools that have multiple finalists! Five schools have managed to boast three finalists each: Ann Arbor Greenhills, Birmingham Seaholm, East Grand Rapids, Manistee, and Midland Dow. Meanwhile, another seven schools have two finalists each, including Beal City, Britton Deerfield, Dearborn, Mason, Northville, Oxford, and Traverse City West.
The average sport participation rate among finalists sits at an impressive 2.88, with 77 participants excelling in three or more sports! It’s amazing to see such dedication and commitment to both academics and athletics.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for these scholarships, students must meet specific criteria. They need a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale and must have earned a varsity letter in at least one MHSAA-sanctioned sport. Applicants also showcase their efforts through short essays and two recommendation letters, along with a written piece on sportsmanship.
More Than Just Scholarships
This year, a total of 1,607 applications were received from 445 schools, with 28 schools submitting the maximum number of applications allowed. All applicants are set to receive certificates to commemorate their hard work and achievements.
A dedicated 65-member committee, comprised of coaches, counselors, faculty members, and MHSAA board members, will judge these applications. The much-anticipated selection of the 32 scholarship recipients will take place early next month, with announcements scheduled:
- Class C and D recipients on February 6
- Class B recipients on February 13
- Class A recipients on February 20
A Word on Support
Farm Bureau Insurance, founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers, has been a supportive force behind these awards, offering various insurance services to nearly 500,000 policyholders. The MHSAA itself is a non-profit organization consisting of over 1,500 public and private member schools, working tirelessly to promote fair athletic competition.
With tournaments attracting over 1.4 million spectators each year, the MHSAA truly champions the spirit of high school athletics!
For those interested, a full list of scholarship nominees can be found on the MHSAA Scholar-Athlete page! Best of luck to all the finalists—we can’t wait to see who earns those well-deserved scholarships!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Scholar-Athlete Finalists Announced in Michigan
Additional Resources
- MHSAA: 2024 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced
- MGoBlue: Tamer Named NFHCA’s 2024 National Scholar-Athlete
- The Sun Times News: Scholar Athletes Represent Saline
- MHSAA: 2023 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced Class B
- Mining Gazette: Dollar Bay Tamarack City Senior Student-Athlete Honored
- Wikipedia: Scholarship
- Google Search: Scholarship Programs
- Google Scholar: Scholarship Award Winners
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Scholarship
- Google News: Scholarship Awards
