Student Athlete Title
The Scholar Gymnast Award is for high school-aged gymnasts of any gender who compete at the state level and can offer proof of a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Why Did This Start?
I was shocked when I found out that the Academic All-American Award offered by USA Gymnastics is only available to the men's program. I started Scholar Gymnasts as a way to provide an alternative student-athlete award for deserving scholar gymnasts, no matter their gender, as well as for gymnasts who don't continue on to the collegiate level to have something to show for their dedication to the sport.
Our Mission
While providing athletes with scholar awards that give them the recognition they deserve, I wanted to help promote education around the world and in countries where girls are not given equal educational opportunities. USA Gymnastics charges $20 for award applications to eligible boys; so, we are asking for donations of $20 or more per application. These funds go directly to the non-profit organization Room to Read, whose excellent organization funds educational opportunities for underprivileged girls, as well as boys, in places where your small donation makes a huge difference.
OUR STORY
I am a high school student who has been a gymnast for over 13 years competing at national levels in France and at state levels in California in the Xcel Platinum program.
Freshman year, my coaches (who had recently come from coaching boys and assumed the opportunity was open to all) told my team and me about USA Gymnastics Academic All-American program and encouraged us to achieve AAA status. We were motivated and worked extremely hard in both school and gymnastics. Despite achieving well over a 3.5 GPA, as well as reaching States (and Regionals) in competition, we discovered that we were unable to even apply for the Academic All-American Award simply because we are girls.
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I have dedicated around 5,100 hours to gymnastics throughout my life, yet I have nothing to show for my hard work and dedication as the AAA is not available to the women's program.
I was incensed at the injustice of the situation and decided to found Scholar Gymnasts in response. I hope that through Scholar Gymnasts, not only will girls get the recognition they deserve but also boys and girls will join our fight for equality in education and sports opportunities here in the US and around the world.