How to Strike Gold with a Bowling Scholarship.
By Scott Swinford
If you are a sporty person who fancies bowling and is desperate and determined enough to earn a college degree, you are in luck. There are actually a lot of bowling scholarships out there that you can take advantage of. As a high school bowler you should know that the standard of play at college level is very high. Remember that only the absolute top players will be approached with offers of bowling scholarships.
More than $6 million in scholarship money is offered each season by bowling associations and councils, certified tournaments and proprietors throughout the United States.
The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) for one, has quite a few programs. Here are a couple samples of the scholarships that the USBC offers:
The Gift for Life Scholarship
Every year, 12 scholarships of this kind are awarded to high school students who are financially incapable of attending college and getting a degree would be impossible. This scholarship (worth $1,000) will be given to each of the selected group of 6 boys and 6 girls. They should be a Grade 9-12 high school student, with a 2.0 GPA or higher, a current member of the USBC and should have not participated in any professional bowling tournament (not including professional amateur tournaments).
In commemoration of the heroes of the September 11 tragedy, two of The Gift of Life Scholarships shall be given to a child of a fireman, a police officer, or rescue personnel.
Who's Who Sports Edition All-Academic Bowling Team
For this category, scholarship worth $1,000 shall be given away to about 20 high school students who are currently in their junior or senior year, have a 3.0 GPA or higher, are a current member of the USBC and have not participated in any professional bowling tournament (not including professional amateur tournaments). The 20 fortunate students who would qualify shall comprise a team. Aside from the scholarship, they shall also be given a special team award. The criterion for selecting the All-Academic Bowling Team is based on the grades of each applicant, their commitment to their studies and the community, reference letters and an essay.
The United States Bowling Congress has a wealth of information at www.bowl.com/scholarships. I would encourage you to check the site to get more information on the programs available and participating colleges and universities. You may even download applications for a number of financial awards that are given out annually.
Although mostly smaller colleges offer bowling scholarships, there are some larger ones that also participate. Some of the colleges include:
Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL.
Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, IN.
Delaware State University in Dover, DE.
Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL.
University of Houston in Houston, TX.
Jackson State University in Jackson, MS.
Ohio State University in Westerville, OH
While many readers are currently looking for financial aid for college in the near future, it is wise to start planning ahead for the long term. If you are currently a few years away from attending a university and enjoy bowling, you may just be able to finance all or part of your education with something you enjoy competing in now. Bowling scholarships are available, but they only go to the best of the best. I hope that is you!