ASHOF Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame
Overview
The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame awards scholarships and preserves the legacy of individuals who have brought honor to Arkansas through athletic achievement. The program supports higher education by funding scholarships for deserving student-athletes and highlights the role of sports in personal development. This page summarizes the scholarship program, eligibility, application process, timeline, and the named awards.
Description: The ASHOF mission is to honor notable Arkansas athletes and encourage higher education through scholarship funding for student-athletes.
- Program supports both recognition of athletic achievement and student education.
- Scholarships are awarded annually and tied to the ASHOF induction activities.
- Funding is restricted to students attending Arkansas colleges.
Scholarship Awards
The ASHOF awards ten scholarships of $1,000 each to Arkansas high school seniors who will enroll in Arkansas colleges in the fall of 2027. Awards are evenly distributed by gender: five for male student-athletes and five for female student-athletes. Scholarship recipients are announced before and presented at the ASHOF Induction Banquet.
Award Value: Ten scholarships of $1,000 each, disbursed directly to the recipient’s Arkansas college.
Presentation: Scholarship winners will be presented at the ASHOF Induction Banquet on April 30, 2027, at Oaklawn Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
- Ten awards total: five male and five female recipients.
- $1,000 per scholarship, paid directly to the college.
- Presentation occurs at the annual Induction Banquet.
Eligibility and Criteria
Eligibility is limited to graduating Arkansas high school seniors for the 2026–2027 school year who will enroll as freshmen at an Arkansas college or junior college in fall 2027. Out-of-state college enrollment makes an applicant ineligible. Selection is based on a written essay that addresses how sports have positively impacted the applicant’s life.
Eligibility: Must be a 2026–2027 graduating senior from an Arkansas high school (AAA member) planning to attend an Arkansas college in fall 2027.
Essay Requirements: Submit an online essay by the December deadline; essays must not exceed the front of one standard typewritten page, single-spaced. Only the first 100 essays received will be considered.
- Applicant must be an Arkansas high school senior for 2026–2027.
- Must enroll in an Arkansas college or junior college in fall 2027.
- Essay length and submission limits are strictly enforced; only first 100 submissions considered.
Application Process and Timeline
Applicants submit an online essay describing the positive impact of sports on their lives. A panel of ASHOF Board members, including some inductees, will screen and review submitted essays and select the winners. Winners will be notified in advance of the banquet; all ASHOF decisions are final.
Application Timeline: Essays must be submitted online by the December deadline (exact date provided by ASHOF). Winners will be notified by March 20, 2027, and awards presented April 30, 2027.
Review Process: A distinguished panel of ASHOF Board members will evaluate submissions; finalists and winners will be selected based on the essay and program criteria.
- Submit essay online by the December deadline; check ASHOF for the exact date.
- Winners notified by March 20, 2027; presentation on April 30, 2027.
- Review conducted by ASHOF Board members; decisions are final.
Named Scholarships
The ten scholarships are named in honor of donors and supporters of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. These named awards recognize the generosity of individuals and organizations that support both the Hall of Fame and student-athlete education. The names identify the specific scholarship awards presented each year.
History of the Award: Each scholarship is named after a generous donor who has contributed to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.
- Cabe Foundation Scholarship
- Wally Hall Scholarship
- Rush Harding Scholarship
- Sharon Hefling Scholarship
- Jerry Jones, Sr. Scholarship
- Jim Lindsey Scholarship
- Sheffield Nelson Scholarship
- Steve Strange, Sr. Scholarship
- Dr. Doyne Williams Scholarship
- Nancy Williams Scholarship
- Ten scholarships are named for donors to the ASHOF Foundation.
- Names reflect donor recognition and support for student-athletes.
- Recipients are matched to the named scholarships at award time.