Foot Locker Foundation and DoSomething.org have teamed up for the second consecutive year to offer 20 college scholarships (totaling $400,000) to 20 outstanding student athletes. The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program awards students who demonstrate academic excellence and exemplify strong leadership skills both in sports and within their communities.
“We are very pleased to anniversary this important scholarship program to recognize and celebrate talented and deserving scholar athletes and provide them with an opportunity to further their education,” said Ken C. Hicks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Foot Locker, Inc. “It is rewarding to know that the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program can positively impact students who may not have the opportunity to attend college otherwise.”
Scholarships have increasingly become a critical source of funds for future college students and their families. According to the College Board, 53% of all full-time undergraduate college students attend private four-year colleges that charge, on average, $27,293 per year in tuition and fees. Additionally, athletic scholarships can also be challenging to secure. In fact, according to Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org, approximately only 1% to 2% of undergraduate students in Bachelor's degree programs receive athletic scholarships.
“Like scoring the game-winning point, the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program seeks to be a game changer in the land of scholarships,” said April Wright, Campaigns Manager at DoSomething.org. “We are excited to be running this scholarship program for the second year with Foot Locker and can't wait to help 20 more winners as they pursue their college dreams.”
This year's 20 winners will join the program's inaugural class of 20 Foot Locker Scholar Athletes, which will total 40 scholarship recipients in its second year.
Applicants must be college-bound in the Fall of 2013, participate in a sport and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Participants will be required to submit two essays and one recommendation. All applications will be reviewed by a panel of scholarship experts and celebrity judges. Students can apply online or be nominated by teachers, coaches, mentors, family and friends by visiting www.dosomething.org/footlocker. Applications close December 19, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. (EST).
The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program is a part of the Foot Locker Foundation, Inc., which provides monetary support for educational and sports programs across the country. Supporting this all-star partnership is Fastweb, a trusted scholarship and financial aid resource used by students to help find opportunities to pay for school.
