C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarships

To reward the efforts of Indiana’s high school student-athletes, the IHSAA and IHSAA Foundation, Fortè Sports Medicine, the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, 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.

c.

C. Eugene Cato

IHSAA Commissioner 1983-1995

Eugene Cato and the IHSAA

The Centennial Scholarship program was initiated in 2003-04 as a part of the IHSAA’s centennial celebration. Beginning in 2009-10, the annual scholarship awards program was 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 Awards

All selected C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Award recipients will be honored at the IHSAA Foundation Impact Awards. The banquet for the 2024-25 School Year will be held on Thursday, April 17th at Gridiron Hall.

Scholarship Criteria

- During the 2024-25 school year, the student must be enrolled and participate 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 for which the award is being applied for.

- The student must have won a varsity letter as an athlete in at least one of the 24 IHSAA-sanctioned athletic programs.

- The student must be nominated by the principal or athletic director.

- The student must have a minimum 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.

 

Application Process

Applications for the C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Awards are available on the IHSAA portal website (www.myihsaa.net) each school year. Member school principals and athletic directors will be notified each year when the application become available. The member school is responsible for establishing the process by which its nominee is selected. A member school may nominate only one student-athlete per year and should submit the application to the IHSAA by February 14, 2025.

The school Principal or Athletic Director should initiate the nomination process. To nominate an athlete, click here to login and complete the application. After completing the form, the information will be electronically sent to the nominated student. Once the student completes their section, the form will be electronically returned to the Principal/Athletic Director for a final review and submission to the IHSAA. If you have any questions on this process, please contact IHSAA Foundation Director, Trip Lukemeyer, at tlukemeyer@ihsaa.org or 317-846-6601.

Meet Our Past Recipients

A scholarship from the Foundation meant to me a gateway of opportunity. With the aid of the scholarship, I got the opportunity to get most of my college paid for and run at the collegiate level. Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

Maci Easton

2021 Eugene C. Cato Memorial Scholarship Recipient

2024-25 Cato Recipients

Nathaniel Beck - Cato Headshot

Nathaniel Beck

Marion High School
Addison Brubaker - Cato Headshot

Addison Brubaker

Manchester High School
Makena Cruse - Cato Headshot

Makena Cruse

Greenwood Community High School
Claire Hack - Cato Headshot

Claire Hack

Jennings County High School
Lena Jones - Cato Headshot

Lena Jones

Plymouth High School
Jace Martin - Cato Headshot

Jace Martin

North Harrison High School
Kevin Nord - Cato Headshot

Kevin Nord

Maconaquah High School
Colton Phillips - Cato Headshot

Colton Phillips

Perry Meridian High School
Isabella Sellers - Cato Headshot

Isabella Sellers

Indianapolis Shortridge High School
Evan Smith - Cato Headshot

Evan Smith

Lake Central High School
Seth Wagler - Cato Headshot

Seth Wagler

Barr-Reeve High School
Adelyn Wyndham - Cato Headshot

Adelyn Wyndham

Avon High School