CIF State Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award

The 2025-2026 CIF State Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award recognizes college-bound high school seniors whose academic and athletic careers have been truly exemplary and whose personal standards (i.e., integrity, honesty, etc.) and accomplishments are a positive model for others.

Two State winners (1 male and 1 female) will each receive a $10,000 scholarship.
Additionally, 20 Section winners (one male and one female student-athlete in each CIF Section) will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship.

Description

Application Procedures & Process Overview:

All applications must be fully complete before submission. You are able to exit an incomplete application, and finish at a later date by signing into your Kaleidoscope account.

Application must include:

Parent Information
School Information
Academic Information: min GPA of 3.7 (Unweighted) / SAT or ACT score required
Completion of the Student Essay (Max. 500 words)
Principal Information and Signature Page
Complete List of Activities and Participation in the Following Categories:
1. Athletics
2. Non-Athletic Activities & Extracurriculars, including Leadership Positions
3. Community Service

Qualifications

SAT or ACT score required
Residence: California
Grade Level: H.S. Senior
Minimum of two (2) years of athletic participation at the Varsity level

Selection Process

College-bound high school seniors whose academic and athletic careers have been truly exemplary and whose personal standards (i.e., integrity, honesty, etc.) and accomplishments are a positive model for others.

Possess no less than an unweighted cumulative (grades 9-12) grade point average of 3.70;
SAT or ACT score required
Have demonstrated athletic ability in at least two years of varsity play within California (must have participated in athletics as a senior); and
Portrayed themselves as athletes of character displaying the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

View Scholarship