MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award

Scholarship Sponsored by Michigan High School Athletic Association

The 2026-27 Scholar-Athlete application is now live. Please contact your athletic director for the access code.

For 38 years, the MHSAA and Farm Bureau Insurance have honored the best student-athletes in Michigan. Again, this year they will award 32 students with $2,000 scholarships based on achievement and leadership in athletics and activities, as well as responses to short-answer and essay questions. In many ways, this is the most prestigious honor of the MHSAA annual awards.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

Seniors with an unrounded 3.50 or better GPA who have an earned a varsity letter in a MHSAA-sponsored sport are eligible to apply. For early or middle college students, you are eligible in your last year of athletic eligibility.

How Do I Apply?

1. Go to mhsaa.com/scholarship
2. Create an account. Be sure to verify your email address.
3. Ask your school athletic director for the Access Code
4. Choose the blue “Check Eligibility” button, enter the Access Code and start the application

What Are the Different Parts of the Application?

1. Applicant information
2. List of athletic teams and extra-curricular activities, focusing on achievement and leadership positions
3. Two short-answer questions about how your experiences in high school sports and activities
4. 500-word essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics
5. Two letters of recommendation

How Are Letters of Recommendation Submitted?

You have two options for submitting your two letters of recommendation.

1. You can upload the two letters yourself.
2. You can enter email addresses for the two recommenders, and they will be sent simple instructions for adding their letters to your account.

After you select how you would like your letters of recommendation to be submitted, click the "Mark As Complete" button. Another task will populate where you will be able to complete one of the two options above.

When is the Deadline/Announcement Schedule?

The deadline is at 4:00 p.m in early December. 120 Finalists will be announced in late January and the 32 winners will be announced throughout February.

How Many Students Can Apply?

Schools are limited to the number of students who will be considered for the award. Class A schools can nominate 6 boys and 6 girls, Class B can nominate 4 boys and 4 girls, Class C can nominate 3 boys and 3 girls and Class D can nominate 2 boys and 2 girls.

However, more students can submit an application. After the deadline and prior to judging, we will look at the list of completed applications and search for schools which have more applicants than allowed. We will contact the athletic director and ask him/her which applications we should consider for the award. ALL applicants, even those who are not considered for the award, will be recognized with a certificate.

How Many Students Will Win?

We will select 32 total winners - 6 boys and 6 girls from Class A, 4 boys and 4 girls from Class B, 3 boys and 3 girls from Class C and 2 boys and 2 girls from Class D, as well as 2 at-large winners for minority applicants. The winners will be announced throughout February, and honored during the Boys Basketball Finals.