Pop Warner Awards Over $109,000 in Scholarships at the
50th Anniversary Scholastic Banquet in Philadelphia

One of the biggest differences between Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. and other youth sports organizations is Pop Warner's commitment to academic excellence.

Not only is Pop Warner the only youth sports organization that requires academic guidelines for its members to participate in its programs, but Pop Warner also honors its top student-athletes every year through the All-American Scholar program.

Over the past two years, Pop Warner's commitment to academic excellence has been very evident, as nearly a quarter of a million dollars in scholarship money has been handed out to 142 young scholar-athletes from across the country at the annual Scholastic Banquet.

"We're really proud that Pop Warner is the only national youth sports organization that requires scholastic achievement to participate on the field," said Pop Warner Executive Director Jon Butler. "The only recognition allowed for an individual in Pop Warner is for classroom achievement through our Academic All-American program."

Since 1929, the Pop Warner Programs philosophy has been that athletics and scholastics go hand in hand. At every level, Pop Warner programs seek to develop well-rounded young men and women who learn not only the fundamentals of football, cheerleading, and dance but also the importance of education in an atmosphere conducive to developing sound character while having a good time.

Pop Warner national scholarships are available to First Team Senior Scholars each year, who represent the top 35 football players and 35 cheerleaders/dancers in grades eight and above that have been selected as All-American Scholars. And almost every year since Pop Warner began awarding scholarships the total amount awarded has grown.

In 1993, $6,000 was given out to the nation's top six scholar-athletes. Now, at this year's 50th Anniversary event, that total reached $109,650 which was awarded to all 70 of this year's Pop Warner First Team All-American Senior Scholars, who represent grades eight and above.

In addition, with this year's total Pop Warner has now awarded $814,300 in just 17 years...nearly one million dollars!

"One of the aspects of Pop Warner of which we're most proud is our college scholarship program. We've been able to give over $810,000 in college scholarships over the past several years due to great, generous donors -- both corporate partners and individual donors."

Not only has the scholarship total grown over the years, but so has the total number of participants taking part in the Pop Warner All-American Scholar program. In 1991, Pop Warner recognized only about 300 Academic All-Americans. In 2010, however, that number has soared to well over 9,000...all who have the same high standards as back in 1991.

The scholar program is truly one of the main benefits that sets Pop Warner apart from other youth sports organizations, and the driving principle behind the founding of the organization back in 1929 still lives strong today, more than 80 years later.

View a Complete List of Pop Warner Scholarship Recipients