College Scholarships
Many colleges have competitive bowling programs and offer direct scholarships to eligible youth bowlers. While many of these colleges recruit at national youth bowling tournaments, you can contact them directly to find out more information.
National USBC Scholarships and Honor Awards
Young bowlers who participate in USBC leagues/tournaments may be eligible for several national bowling-related scholarship competitions. Adults who are active in providing youth programs may be eligible for national recognition awards. Below is an outline of each award and its application or nomination deadline:
USBC Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow
This award annually recognizes star qualities in a male high school or college student who competes in the sport of bowling. Star qualities include: distinguished certified bowling performance on the local, regional, state and national levels; academic achievement; and extracurricular and civic involvement. Award winners receive a $1,500 scholarship, which is renewable for up to three years. Application Deadline: Oct. 1.
USBC Annual Zeb Scholarship
This award recognizes a USBC Youth member who achieves academic success and gives back to their community through service. Applicants must be in their junior or senior year of high school (grade 11 or 12) and must be USBC Youth members in good standing. Winner receives a $2,500 scholarship and an expense-paid trip for the winner and a parent or guardian to attend the awards ceremony, which is held in conjunction with the USBC Junior Gold Championships in July. Application Deadline: April 1.
USBC Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow
This award annually recognizes star qualities in a female high school senior or college student who competes in the sport of bowling. Star qualities include: distinguished certified bowling performance on the local, regional, state and national levels; academic achievement; and extracurricular involvement. Award winners receive a $1,500 scholarship, which is renewable for up to three years. Application Deadline: Oct. 1.
USBC Youth Ambassador (formerly Youth Leader) of the Year
The Youth Ambassador of the Year Award annually recognizes one male and one female USBC Youth bowler for his/her exemplary contributions in the sport of bowling, academic accomplishments and community involvement. Each of the award winners will receive a $1,500 scholarship and an expense-paid trip to the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the USBC annual convention in the spring. One of the two award winners may be selected as a member of the USBC Youth Committee and serve for a three year period. In addition, the quality of the selected candidate’s service on the Youth Committee could earn this person additional scholarship funds. Since it will be necessary for this person to travel independently to board functions, a Youth Ambassador selected to serve on the Youth Committee must be 18 years or older as of August 1 in the year of their selection. Nomination Deadline: Nov. 1.
USBC Gift for Life Scholarships
USBC awards up to 12 scholarships to USBC Youth members who are high school students and demonstrate financial need. Applicants must be current USBC Youth members enrolled in high school, grades 9-12, and have a current grade point average of 2.0 or better based on a 4.0 scale. Two of the six awards are reserved annually for children of fire department, emergency rescue or police personnel. Selected finalists may be asked to provide evidence of their financial need. Award winners receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Candidates may apply each year of high school and may win one scholarship per year prior to graduation. Application Deadline: April 1.
USBC Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarships USBC presents these prestigious scholarships in honor of the legendary pro bowler, Earl Anthony. Five scholarships of $5,000 each will be available annually to recognize male and female bowlers for their community involvement and academic achievements. Financial need will also be considered. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in their senior year of high school or presently attending college and must be current members of USBC in good standing. In addition, candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 based on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). Individuals may win this award only once. Application Deadline: May 1.
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USBC Kerm Helmer Horizon Award
The Kerm Helmer Horizon Award recognizes leaders in the bowling community who have displayed the courage, determination and ability to develop far-reaching programs of national scope that provide fun and exciting opportunities for bowlers. Named in honor of the team founder and longtime bowling coach at Erie Community College, who also served as a board member, vice-president and president of the former Young American Bowling Alliance, the Kerm Helmer Horizon Award aims to recognize those that exhibit Kerm's enthusiasm, commitment and persistence to turn ideas into reality. Nomination Deadline: Nov. 1.
USBC Youth Program Volunteer of the Year
This prestigious award recognizes an adult volunteer who has displayed outstanding efforts to foster, operate and promote certified youth bowling programs at the local or state level for the last ten years or more. The award recipient receives an expense-paid trip to the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the USBC annual convention in the spring. Nomination Deadline: Nov. 1.
David Dahms Coach of the Year
This prestigious award recognizes a USBC Youth coach who has been actively involved in a USBC Youth program and has demonstrated outstanding commitment to coaching, sportsmanship and knowledge of USBC Youth rules for the last seven years or more. The award recipient receives an expense-paid trip to the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the USBC annual convention in the spring. The recipient will also be automatically approved as a coach in the People to People Sports Ambassador Program and will have the opportunity to travel internationally as part of a People to People bowling tour. Nomination Deadline: Nov. 1.
National PBA-Sponsored Scholarship
Billy Welu Scholarship
This annual award recognizes exemplary qualities in male and female college students who compete in the sport of bowling. Winner receives a $1,000 scholarship award. Eligible candidates must be amateur bowlers who are currently in college (preceding the application deadline) and maintain at least a 2.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent. Application Deadline: May 31.