St. Charles Parish high school seniors have until Friday to apply for a scholarship program that recognizes student-athletes for their accomplishments in the classroom, in sports and in their communities.
In partnership with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the Chevron Scholar-Athlete of the Week program will award more than 10 student-athletes across the Greater New Orleans region with $2,000 college scholarships this school year.
Donald Dunbar Jr., director of community engagement and government relations for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, said the organization aims to award at least one scholarship in each of the 10 eligible parishes, including St. Charles Parish.
“We want to make sure we cast a wide net,” Dunbar said. “We want to make sure that we actually do have an award in each parish. That’s always a goal of mine.”
The program, now in its 10th year, recognizes high school seniors who have participated in a sport for at least three years, including their senior year. Dunbar said students do not have to compete at the varsity level for all three years to qualify.
Students also cannot plan to attend college on a full athletic scholarship.
Beginning Sept. 21, selected students will be surprised at their schools and announced as a scholar-athlete of the week. Dunbar said the Sports Foundation coordinates with school administrators, teachers and coaches ahead of the presentations while keeping the selection a secret from the student.
The scholarship money is later sent directly to the college the recipient chooses to attend.
Dunbar said applicants should make sure their applications reflect more than their athletic accomplishments. Academic performance is important and community involvement can also help an applicant stand out.
“The student athlete who also has given their time to their community to volunteer – I think that really speaks volumes,” Dunbar said.
Students can include volunteer work and other ways they have contributed to their communities, along with leadership roles and achievements in their sport.
Dunbar said athletic statistics and records are not the focus of the selection process.
St. Charles Parish students have been among the program’s recipients in recent years. Dunbar said he has visited Hahnville and Destrehan High Schools multiple times to recognize students.
“Whatever they’re doing in St. Charles Parish, they’re doing it right,” Dunbar said.
The application is electronic and designed to be completed quickly. Dunbar said it should take students no more than about 15 minutes to complete. Students can apply on their own, although the application asks for the contact information of a school representative so the Sports Foundation can verify information for students under consideration.
The program has evolved in recent years to reach students throughout the region. Dunbar said that when he took over the initiative three years ago, the program expanded its focus to 10 parishes.
Last year, 10 students received $2,000 scholarships. This year, Dunbar said the organization expects to award more than 10 scholarships, although the final number has not yet been determined.
For Dunbar, a former high school athlete, the program provides an opportunity to recognize students who have successfully balanced the demands of academics and athletics.
“It’s hard enough to be a student, but it’s even harder to be a student-athlete,” Dunbar said.
He said some of his favorite moments come when the Sports Foundation arrives at a school and announces a recipient’s name in front of classmates and teachers.
“When the teachers and the kids erupt in cheer, that always gives me that confirmation like, ‘Hey, we picked a good one,’” Dunbar said.
Chevron has sponsored the program throughout its ten-year history. Dunbar said the scholarships are part of a broader effort by the Sports Foundation to ensure its work in the region extends beyond bringing major sporting events to the region.
The organization has helped bring events such as the Super Bowl to the area, but Dunbar said its community impact is central to its mission.
“We believe in community,” Dunbar said. “We always want to keep that focus first.”
Students can apply through the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation’s website. Applications close Friday.