Heisman High School Scholarship (United States)

The Heisman High School Scholarship program honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes. By inviting male and female students from schools across the country to share their stories of leadership and impact, the program aims to inspire all students to harness their potential, push their limits, and use their talents not only to advance their own futures, but to improve the communities and world around them.

The Heisman High School Scholarship was created in 1994 through a partnership between Wendy’s and The Heisman Trophy Trust. From its inception, the program has leveraged the reputation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy as a symbol of great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.

Funding Information

• Award Amount: $1,000 – $10,000

Scholarship Rules

• Heisman High School Scholarships will be awarded to State Winners, National Finalists and National Winners. All scholarship winners must meet all the rules of the Heisman High School Scholarship application process.
• Scholarship winners can attend any accredited college or university in the United States. The scholarship is not restricted to any specific institution.
• Scholarship winners must plan to be enrolled full-time (a minimum of 12 hours per semester or quarter) for the entire 2024-2025 academic year.
• Scholarships are not renewable and are for one year only.
• Scholarship funds may only be used toward educational expense: tuition, books and fees.
• The one-time award stipend will be paid in one installment for a full academic year. The check will be issued to the college/university and mailed directly to the student at the beginning of the support period. The student will be responsible for forwarding the check to their college/university.
• Other awards may be accepted by scholarship recipients of the Heisman High School Scholarship. There will ordinarily be no objection to the acceptance of additional awards.
• If the recipient does not enroll for the 2024-2025 academic year, the unused portion of the funds will be forfeited. Any funds forfeited will be returned to the Heisman High School Scholarship program.
• Deferrals may be considered on an individual basis for active military service, religious/mission work, gap years, and significant life upheavals (ie: illness, hardship, family tragedy, or similar reasons) and are solely the decision of the Heisman High School Scholarship Administrators.
• Requests for scholarship deferments must be made in writing to the Heisman High School Scholarship program (email is acceptable), must detail the time period of deferral and must be approved in advance. All deferral requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Heisman High School Scholarship Administrators.
• The Heisman High School Scholarship program reserves the right to alter scholarship funds distribution as needed.

Eligibility Criteria

To achieve award eligibility for the 2023 heisman high school scholarship students must be seniors during the 2023-2024 academic year, graduating with the class of 2024. Applicants must:

• Learn
  • Have a cumulative weighted high school grade point average (GPA) of a B (3.0) or better.
• Perform
  • Participate or have participated in grades 9, 10, or 11 in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, or the National Federation of State High School Association.
• Lead
  • Be a leader in school and in the community and serve as a role model for underclassman.

For more information, visit Heisman Trophy Trust.