ORGANIZATION’S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP WILL AWARD $15,000 TO ST. LOUIS AREA HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO EXEMPLIFY OUTSTANDING SPORTSMANSHIP; TOP WINNER WILL RECEIVE $10,000
ST. LOUIS – Feb. 24, 2025 – The first one, Trent Ross, is now a decorated police officer in the Collinsville (Ill.) Police Department. The second one, Megan Wood, is a senior scientist of immunotoxicology in Cambridge, Mass. Last year’s top recipient, Cameron Clayborn, just completed his first football season at Morehouse College. In all, there have been 66 recipients of the Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship since it started in 2009, and a total of $222,500 in scholarships awarded. The St. Louis Sports Commission is looking for the next recipients of the scholarship awarded annually to St. Louis area high school seniors who demonstrate a penchant for sportsmanship and selflessness in athletic competition.
Applications for the Sportsmanship Scholarship are now being accepted, with a total of $15,000 in scholarship funds available this year. A top scholarship winner will receive $10,000. The application packet is online at sportsmanship.org/scholarship. Applications must be received by April 14, 2025. Recipients will be selected by April 25.
Administered by the Sports Commission Associates – the Sports Commission’s young professionals group – the scholarship program is part of the organization’s efforts to celebrate and elevate sportsmanship in the community.
Scholarship candidates should be nominated for embodying the ideals and values of sportsmanship – honesty, integrity, civility, selflessness, kindness, compassion, and class – on the playing field. Those connected to athletic teams, such as student managers and cheerleaders, are also eligible for the scholarship should their leadership and behavior represent an extraordinary model for all in sports to follow. While off-field activities and community service are applauded, scholarship candidates are evaluated for their approach and character in competition. Athletic performance (wins and other statistics) does not factor in the selection.
Greatest consideration will be given to nominees who demonstrate a track record of sportsmanship and respect directed at opponents, officials, and the spirit of the game.
The Sports Commission Associates created the Sportsmanship Scholarship in 2009 to recognize and reward local high school seniors for their character in competition. The group raises funds for the program and selects its recipients. The Associates are hosting a golf tournament and casino night fundraiser this year to support the scholarship fund. For more details, visit sportsmanship.org/events.
Bios from all previous recipients from the first 16 years of the scholarship program can be viewed by clicking here.
The Sportsmanship Scholarship is named in honor of the late Carl Fricks, who embodied the virtues of sportsmanship. Through this gesture, the Associates recognized the selfless efforts of Carl’s daughter, Holly Yoakum, who chaired the group and was a champion for the scholarship initiative. Holly passed away unexpectedly in 2017, leaving so many friends and colleagues heartbroken. The Sports Commission and the Associates are dedicated to honoring Holly’s memory and legacy by growing the Sportsmanship Scholarship and carrying out her passion for doing good in the community.