The C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Awards

Currently in Indiana, more than 160,000 students from 410 different IHSAA member schools participate in high school athletics. The Indiana High School Athletic Association believes that the athletic arena is merely an extension of the classroom, and the lessons learned through participation will have a dramatic impact on today’s youth as they prepare to become the leaders of tomorrow.

In an effort to reward the efforts of Indiana’s complete student-athletes, the IHSAA, Methodist Sports Medicine, the Indianapolis Colts, and Sport Graphics, Inc. have partnered in sponsoring the C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Awards. Each year, a minimum of 12 seniors are chosen from applicants throughout the state to receive a $2,500 scholarship for their high school accomplishments. These recipients are Indiana’s brightest stars and they embody everything that is right about high school sports. These well-rounded, positive role models have demonstrated excellence in academics, school and community involvement, character, sportsmanship and citizenship.

 

The Awards

All selected C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Award recipients will be honored on April 11, 2013, at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis as a part of the Methodist Sports Medicine Annual Thomas A. Brady Achievement Awards Banquet.

All scholarship money will be paid directly to the student. Scholarship winners must be enrolled at the collegiate institution by October 1, 2013, to receive the award.

Eugene Cato and the IHSAA

The Centennial Scholarship program was initiated in 2003-04 as a part of the IHSAA’s centennial celebration. This year, the annual scholarship awards program has been renamed in tribute to former IHSAA Commissioner C. Eugene Cato. “Gene” served as Assistant Commissioner of the Association from 1976 until he became the Commissioner of the IHSAA in 1983 - providing leadership until he retired in 1995. His passion for athletics and his belief in the intrinsic value of athletic competition on the formation of a child’s character enabled Gene to positively impact generations of young men and women with his well-known “Firm, Fair, and Friendly” approach to caring for others. Gene passed away in October of 2008.

 

The C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Awards made possible by:

 

C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship sponsor Indianapolis Colts

 

 C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship sponsor Sport Graphics

 

C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Award sponsor Methodist Sports Medicine

 

 

Scholarship Criteria

  • During the 2012-13 school year, the student must be enrolled and participating in interscholastic athletics at an IHSAA member school.
     
  • The student must be a senior at the IHSAA member school who will graduate during the school year in which the award is being applied for.
     
  • The student must have won a varsity letter as an athlete in at least one of the 20 IHSAA-sanctioned athletic programs.
     
  • The student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or the equivalent.
     
  • The student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or the equivalent.
     
  • The student must have no violations of his/her school’s athletic code of conduct.
     
  • The student must not have been ejected from any IHSAA contest due to unsportsmanlike behavior.
     
  • The student must verify that he/she has made a commitment to remain substance-free throughout high school.
  • All applications must be received in the IHSAA office
    by January 11, 2013.