Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship

Since 1995, SHAPE America has awarded scholarships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate student members majoring in the field of health, physical education, recreation or dance. The Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship, developed by the past presidents of SHAPE America to honor deserving students, is awarded to three undergraduate students and two graduate students in January of each year. All scholarships are presented at the SHAPE America National Convention & Expo held in the spring.

Undergraduate awards are $1,250 each and graduate awards are $1,750 each. Recipients also receive a complimentary three-year SHAPE America membership.

Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship

Criteria & Application Procedures for Graduate Students

Criteria for Application

1. Applicant must be a current member of SHAPE America. Graduate students may join at the time of application.
2. Applicant must be majoring in the field of health, physical education, recreation or dance.
3. Applicant must be enrolled in a matriculated full‐time master's or doctoral program. *Doctoral candidates working on their dissertation must be no more than one year beyond coursework completion.
4. Applicant must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 overall on a 4.0 grade point scale. The following guidelines should be used when reporting the GPA:
   First semester Master’s and Doctoral candidates: GPA based on most recent degree obtained. GPA scores from all institutions attended in pursuit of applicant’s most recent degree must be factored into the overall GPA.
   Master’s/Doctoral candidates beyond first semester: GPA based on applicant’s current program.
5. GPA scores from all institutions attended in pursuit of applicant’s current degree must be factored into the overall GPA. Applicant must be a first time Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship recipient. Previous recipients of SHAPE America’s National Presidential Scholarship are ineligible. Undergraduate recipients are ineligible for the graduate scholarship award.

Criteria for Selection

1. Scholastic proficiency
2. Evidence of leadership
3. School, community, professional activity/service
4. Character attributes

Application Procedures

The following materials must be submitted electronically or by mail by October 15. Incomplete applications and those not strictly adhering to the directions for submission will not be considered.

Instructions for Electronic Submission:

1. Complete the scholarship application (vitae will not be accepted) and email the form and all required documentation noted in Items 2 through 5 below to Patti Hartle at phartle@shapeamerica.org. Items 2 through 5 must be provided in a Microsoft Word or PDF format.
2. Provide a letter from your school’s dean or registrar indicating full‐time status.
3. Provide two letters of recommendation signed and titled which address all aspects of the selection criteria. Letters are limited to two pages each.
4. Provide a scanned copy of official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
5. Provide a biographical sketch to be used for publication and for the official convention award presentation.