SELF Principle Sports Scholarship
Help Southern California students
play organized sports.
SELF stands for Sleep, Exercise, Love, and Food. The Sports Scholarship advances the Exercise pillar by reducing the cost barriers that keep some students from joining a team, continuing in a sport, or competing.
One scholarship of up to $500, awarded twice a year, for a student in grades 4 through 8 who lives in Southern California.
Why this scholarship exists
Watching my own daughters wrestle, I saw how much it costs a family to let a child compete, and how many talented, dedicated kids never get the chance because of money.
SELF Principle exists to reduce barriers to better health. For a young athlete, that barrier may be the cost of registration, competition, approved travel, or basic equipment.
Sean Hashmi, MD, co-founder
The award
What the scholarship covers, and who can apply.
One award each review cycle
$500
Each cycle, one student receives a scholarship of up to $500. It may cover league or club registration, tournament entry, approved travel costs, or basic equipment and gear.
SELF Principle pays the approved league, club, program, or vendor directly. Support is not provided as cash to a family.
Who can apply
Students in grades 4 to 8 in Southern California who:
Maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher, or strong grades if the school does not use GPA.
Contribute at home, at school, on a team, or in the community.
Are committed to a sport and need support to keep participating, train, or compete.
Demonstrate financial need.
How many awards
Two scholarships a year.
SELF Principle awards one scholarship of up to $500 in each review cycle. With two review cycles a year, that is two scholarships a year.
How to apply
A short first step, completed by a parent or guardian.
A parent or legal guardian begins with a short first-step application. It collects only the information needed to review initial eligibility and contact the family.
1
Family and student details
The parent or legal guardian's name and email, and the student's first name, grade, city, and sport.
2
Requested support
The type of support requested and the estimated amount, up to $500.
3
A brief parent response
One brief parent or guardian response about the barrier this support would address.
Keep sensitive records out
Do not upload or include report cards, tax documents, bank information, medical information, Social Security numbers, immigration information, or other sensitive records. If a student is invited to continue, SELF Principle will provide separate instructions.
When to apply
Two review cycles a year.
Applications are open year-round. Applications received after a deadline move to the next review cycle.
Cycle one
Apply by January 31
Decisions announced by May 1.
Cycle two
Apply by July 31
Decisions announced by November 1.
How recipients are chosen
A committee, not one person.
Applications are reviewed by a volunteer committee that may include teachers, coaches, clinicians, and professionals from different fields. No single reviewer decides an award. Relatives of the founder and committee members are not eligible.
Reviewers consider academic effort, contribution at home, school, on a team, or in the community, commitment to the student's sport, and financial need.
For scholarship questions, gifts, sporting-goods gift cards, equipment, or program support, email scholarship@selfprinciple.org. Do not send application records or supporting documents by email.
Anyone who supports the scholarship does not receive applicant information, communicate with applicants or recipients, select award recipients, or influence SELF Principle health education.
SELF Principle is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN 82-2660081. Contributions are generally tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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