High school seniors at Royal Oak, Berkley and Shrine Catholic can compete for $2,000 scholarships through the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).

The MHSAA and Farm Bureau Insurance will award 32 Scholar-Athlete scholarships statewide during the 2026-27 school year, according to a press release issued on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Applications are now open and are due by 4 p.m. Eastern time Friday, Dec. 4.

The program, in its 38th year, has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships since 1988-89.

Who can apply

Seniors graduating during the 2026-27 school year who carry an unrounded cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have earned a varsity letter before senior year in an MHSAA-sponsored sport are eligible. The official rules also require students to be enrolled at an MHSAA member school and participating in interscholastic athletics. Qualifying sports include football, basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, skiing and wrestling, among others.

What the application requires

Students must submit an essay of no more than 500 words on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics, two letters of recommendation and responses to two short-answer questions about how athletics and other activities have prepared them for life after high school. The application also asks students to document involvement in other school and community activities.

Scoring breaks down as follows: essay, 40%; extracurricular activities, 30%; short-answer questions, 20%; and letters of recommendation, 10%, according to MHSAA’s student instructions.

How local schools fit in

Royal Oak High School (enrollment 1,268) and Berkley High School (enrollment 1,157) are both classified as Class A under the MHSAA's 2026-27 enrollment list. Each school may submit up to six boys and six girls for consideration.

Shrine Catholic (enrollment 194) is classified as Class C. The school may submit up to three boys and three girls.

If more students apply than a school's allotment allows, the athletic director selects which applications move forward. Students who submit completed applications receive a certificate of recognition, according to MHSAA’s application guidance and official rules.

How to apply

Students apply online through the MHSAA scholarship page. They must create an account, verify their email and obtain an access code from their school's athletic director. No paper applications are accepted.

Students with questions can contact Paige Winne at the MHSAA at 517-332-5046.

What happens next

A statewide committee of school administrators will select finalists in late January. The 32 winners will be announced throughout February and recognized at the 2027 MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Scholarships may be used at the recipient's college or university during their first year. The official rules require recipients to enroll by Oct. 1 following high school graduation to receive the scholarship.