Excelling in Exercise Physiology: A Guide to Scholarships

For students passionate about sports, exercise, and the science underpinning human movement, kinesiology or sports science offers a compelling academic path. The pursuit of higher education in these fields can be significantly aided by scholarships designed to support aspiring professionals. This article explores a variety of scholarships available to students pursuing exercise physiology and related disciplines.

General Scholarships for Academic Pursuits

Several scholarships are open to students across various fields, providing a broad base of financial aid opportunities.

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship: This scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. This scholarship has rolling monthly application deadlines. Students applying earlier will have a greater chance of winning.
Niche $25,000 No Essay Scholarship: Niche can help with every step of the college search including paying for it. Apply for the Niche $25,000 No Essay Scholarship and focus on your education, not your finances. The winner will be selected by random drawing by April 15th.
Sallie Scholarship: Sallie will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants.
CollegeXpress Easy Scholarship: Easy $2,500 scholarship from CollegeXpress- open to high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors! To apply, simply fill out the CollegeXpress registration page.

STEM-Focused Scholarships

Given the scientific nature of exercise physiology, STEM-focused scholarships are highly relevant. These scholarships often target students demonstrating a strong aptitude and passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

SBB Research Group STEM Scholarship: Are you a full-time student studying Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics? The SBB Research Group STEM Scholarship could be a good fit for you! The scholarship is awarded monthly, with 12 winners being selected throughout the year. The best part about this scholarship is the work to reward ratio. By simply submitting a short 500-word essay, you could win $2,500 from the SBB Research Group.
Edison Scholars Program: The Edison Scholars Program is designed to support exceptional high school seniors in Southern California pursuing a degree in STEM at a four-year college or university. Each year, Edison International will grant this exceptional $12,500 scholarship to 30 high school seniors, enabling them to pursue their passions in STEM and become catalysts for global transformation. The best part? This scholarship is renewable for up to four years, meaning recipients can earn up to $50,000 in award money! Eligible applicants should demonstrate financial need, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and plan to major in one of the following fields - computer and information systems, engineering, engineering technology, management information systems, mathematics, natural resources and conservation, or physical sciences.
Viva Pressler Scholarship: To qualify for Viva's scholarship, individuals must be past graduates or graduating seniors from a public high school in Hancock County, Indiana who are pursuing or planning to pursue an associate or bachelor's degree in math or science. Applicants must also have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Recipients will be chosen for their demonstration of financial need and academic standing. To be considered for the scholarship, individuals must submit a current transcript, a 250-word essay, and a FAFSA Report. If you're interested in this scholarship, you may want to explore other scholarships for Indiana residents and STEM scholarships that you could apply for.
William Joseph Smith S.T.E.M. Scholarship: If you, like William, believe in the power of a STEM education and reside in this bountiful county, the William Joseph Smith S.T.E.M. To qualify for the scholarship, individuals must be graduating Weld County high school seniors who will be enrolling full-time in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) program at any accredited four-year college or university in the United States. Applicants must also have a minimum 3.50 GPA. If you sound like a fit for this scholarship, we encourage you to apply! Don't forget to explore other STEM scholarships and Colorado scholarships available through Scholarships360.
Charles H. James II & Lucia Bacote James Scholarship: The Charles H. James II & Lucia Bacote James Scholarship is open to post-secondary students attending any Baptist church in West Virginia who are studying business, science, technology, or a math-related field at any post-secondary institution. If you attend a Baptist church in West Virginia and are studying business, science, technology, or math, we encourage you to apply!
Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship: The Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship is a life-changing $50,000 scholarship opportunity for any student in the United States who is under 18. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of significant work. This means any work or accomplishment that experts in the field recognize as meaningful and has the potential to make a positive contribution to society. This typically comes in the form of a project completed by the student(s). That’s right, student(s)! You can apply to the Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship in a group of two!
Barry Goldwater Scholarship: If so, consider applying for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship! The scholarship is open to nominated applicants who are college sophomores or juniors studying and conducting research in a STEM field. is producing enough "highly-qualified professionals" in these critical fields. This particular scholarship serves as a memorial for Barry Goldwater, a former air force officer and senator for 30 years. Recipients of the scholarship receive up to $7,500 to help pay for tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

Scholarships for Underrepresented Groups

Several scholarships specifically aim to support students from underrepresented backgrounds, fostering diversity in STEM and healthcare fields.

Scholarships360 Scholars Program: Scholars Program awards up to $5,000 to multiple underrepresented, high school seniors who will be first-generation college students and want to help their families and communities. For 2024, the program hopes to support students pursuing a degree in any of the following fields: Transportation Management, math, science, engineering, architecture, environmental design, pre-med, psychology, and/or the Spanish Language and Literature.
STEM Scholarship for Women and Minorities: Worth $5,000, this scholarship is designed to support women and minority groups pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Candidates must be currently enrolled in, or have recently been accepted into a a recognized STEM program. Applicants should demonstrate a passion for STEM and a commitment to fostering diversity within the field. Applicants are invited to submit a 300-word essay describing their interest in STEM and how this scholarship will support their career goals.
SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) Scholarships: Are you an incoming or current postsecondary student of Hispanic/Latino heritage who will be pursuing a STEM degree? If so, you may be eligible for some of the many SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) Scholarships! There are a variety of scholarships available, offering between $2,000 and $10,000 to winning applicants. To be eligible, individuals must be high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduate students who are active members of SPHE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers).
McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program: The McKnight Doctoral Fellowship program is a great program designed to address the underrepresentation of African American and Hispanic faculty at colleges and universities in the state of Florida by increasing the pool of citizens qualified with Ph.D. degrees to teach at the college and university levels. Each year, up to 50 applicants will be granted fellowships worth $17,000 per year in tuition, fees, and stipend. It is expected that this will help expand employment opportunities in the industry for Black and Hispanic doctoral degree holders. If this sounds like a good fit, we encourage you to apply!
FOSSI Scholarship: Are you a current or soon-to-be high school graduate planning on studying or majoring in a STEM field at an HBCU (Historically Black College or University)? If so, you may be eligible for the FOSSI Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards four-year scholarships of $40,000 ($10,000 per year) to over 100 HBCU STEM students. Preferred majors may include, but are not limited to: Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Material Science, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Agriculture Science, Physics, and Biology. FOSSI is not intended for students interested in pursuing careers in nursing, medicine, psychology, social sciences and other associated fields. If you're a high school senior or graduate who will be studying one of these fields at an HBCU, we encourage you to apply!
Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy: The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy is available to Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are pursuing studies in advanced degrees in health care fields.
Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund: The Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled members or descendants of members of federally and state recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Native groups.
SEI Native American Education Scholarship: The SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe.
SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship: The SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants.

Healthcare-Related Scholarships

For students specifically interested in the healthcare aspects of exercise physiology, several scholarships target those pursuing careers in healthcare.

New Jersey Brain and Spine Healthcare Scholarship: The New Jersey Brain and Spine Healthcare Scholarship is a $2,000 award created to recognize and support students who are passionate about pursuing a career in healthcare. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be high school seniors or current undergraduate students residing in or attending school in New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania. Applicants must also be pursuing a degree in a healthcare-related field. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of NJBS physicians and administrators. Essays will be evaluated based on relevance to the prompt, originality, commitment to a healthcare career, and clarity of writing. The scholarship recipient will receive a $2,000 award to support their education.

Location-Specific Scholarships

Some scholarships are restricted to students residing in specific geographic locations.

James T. and Rose M. Perryman Family Foundation Trade School Scholarship: The James T. and Rose M. Perryman Family Foundation Trade School Scholarship supports students who reside within 150 miles of the borough of Houston, Pennsylvania.
Cleveland Browns Foundation Marion Motley Scholarship: The Cleveland Browns Foundation Marion Motley Scholarship is available to graduating seniors from Northeast Ohio.
Rocco C. Caffarelli Scholarship: To be eligible for this $6,000 scholarship, applicants must be male residents of Texas who are planning to attend a Texas college or university with the intent to major in education, science, religion, business, music, or applied arts. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 3.2 GPA out of a 4.0 GPA scale. Interested in discovering similar scholarships? We encourage you to browse Scholarships360 for more Texas scholarships that you could qualify for.
Edison Scholars Program: The Edison Scholars Program is designed to support exceptional high school seniors in Southern California pursuing a degree in STEM at a four-year college or university.

Scholarships for Specific Fields of Study

Some scholarships are tailored to specific fields of study within or related to exercise physiology.

AIAA Roger W. Kahn Scholarship: The AIAA Roger W. Kahn Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for high school seniors with a passion for aerospace. The AIAA Roger…
American Parkinson Disease Association Research Grant: The American Parkinson Disease Association Research Grant is available to PhD students who are involved in research science. APDA Research Grants are intended to support research aimed at developing new insights into the pathophysiology, etiology and/or treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
Jewel Scholars Program: The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry.
SEI General Scholarship: The SEI General Scholarship is available to students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training.

Scholarships for Military Veterans and Dependents

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship: The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

Other Unique Scholarship Opportunities

Charles W. and Annette Hill Scholarship: The Charles W. and Annette Hill Scholarship annually awards $1,000 to a college-bound high school senior or college underclassman who is the descendent of a member of the American Legion. While preference will be given to those applicants desiring to engage in the Fields of Science, Engineering, or Business Administration, individuals pursuing any field of study may apply. If you're a graduating senior, college freshman, or college sophomore who is the descendant of an American Legion member, we encourage you to apply!
Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship: The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health.
Bess Heflin Fellowship: The Bess Heflin Fellowship is open to graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin.

Health & Human Performance Departmental Scholarships at Fort Lewis College (FLC)

As a Health & Human Performance student, you have three departmental scholarships to help fund your education.

Stan Rabbe Memorial Scholarship: In honor of Stan Rabbe, a retired counselor at Durango High and Miller Middle schools, and others with Alzheimer’s disease, we offer this memorial scholarship to students whose life has been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease in some way. The Health & Human Performance students, faculty, staff and alumni organize a 10K every year. The entrance fees fund the H&HP Departmental Scholarship. Scholarship recipients may receive a $500 or $1000 scholarship.
Dr. Joan Sanders Scholarship: Dr. Joan Sanders was a long-time faculty member in what is now the FLC Health & Human Performance department. She started the FLC Intramural Sports program. She passed away in 1996 after her retirement. This endowed scholarship of $500 has been developed in her name.
Dr. Jo Ann Soignier Scholarship: Dr. Jo Ann Soignier was a long-time faculty member in what is now the FLC Health & Human Performance department and retired in 2008. She helped create the Sport Administration Option of the Health & Human Performance degree program and spent years supervising students in their Sport Administration practicum and internship experiences. As a 1984 graduate of Fort Lewis, Dr. Soignier created this $500 scholarship to give back to the institution where she spent much of her academic and professional careers. She hopes that this scholarship will promote interest and enthusiasm for the field of Sport Administration.

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