Charles B. Staats Memorial Foundation Scholarship
Offered by Charles B. Staats Memorial Foundation
About this scholarship
The Charles B. Staats Memorial Foundation Scholarship recognizes a graduating high school senior who has developed leadership and community skills by coaching a competitive swim team. The foundation anticipates a $4,000 award for 2027, renewable at the same annual amount for up to four years if the recipient satisfies the conditions in the annual scholarship agreement. The final 2027 amount will be approved by the foundation board in June 2027. Funds may support tuition, books, room and board, and mandatory school fees at an accredited four-year college or university. Applicants need at least two years of team swim coaching experience and must coach during the summer immediately after high school graduation. Head-coach and assistant-coach experience can qualify, but working only as an individual swim instructor or lifeguard does not. Candidates must document responsibilities that include team management and swim-meet participation and provide contact information for a team management representative. The application also requires one swimming reference, one additional non-family reference, a final official high school transcript, proof of college acceptance, and SAT or ACT scores. A student who did not take a standardized test may instead submit a statement and verification from the school. Applications are accepted through the official Scholars App listing from January 1 through May 31, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time; late or incomplete submissions are not accepted.
Eligibility
- Be a graduating high school senior
- Have a minimum 3.0 unweighted high school GPA
- Have at least two years of experience as a head or assistant team swim coach
- Continue coaching a swim team during the summer immediately after high school graduation
- Document team-management and swim-meet responsibilities; instructor-only or lifeguard-only experience does not qualify
- Provide one swimming reference and one additional reference, neither from a family member
- Submit an official final high school transcript and proof of acceptance to an accredited four-year college or university
- Submit official SAT or ACT scores, or a no-test statement with proof from the high school
- Submit the complete Scholars App application by May 31, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time