DeWitt Family Sportsmanship & Leadership Scholarship

Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders Through Sport

The Rose Bowl Institute is proud to partner with the DeWitt Family to present the DeWitt Family Sportsmanship & Leadership Scholarship, an annual award recognizing student-athletes who exemplify the values of sportsmanship, leadership, character, and service.

Created to celebrate the positive impact of sport beyond competition, the scholarship honors students who demonstrate how lessons learned through athletics—teamwork, resilience, respect, integrity, and perseverance—shape their leadership in the classroom, on the field, and throughout their communities.

The scholarship is awarded annually to outstanding student-athletes who have participated in the Rose Bowl Institute's Athletes in Schools Program, an educational initiative that brings student-athletes to the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium to engage in meaningful conversations about leadership, sportsmanship, and citizenship.

Scholarship Criteria

Eligible students must:

• Participate in the Rose Bowl Institute's Athletes in Schools Program
• Demonstrate leadership and positive character within their school and community
• Exhibit the values of sportsmanship both in competition and in everyday life
• Submit a scholarship essay responding to the annual Sportsmanship Essay Prompt

Essay Requirement

As part of the application process, students are asked to reflect on the role sportsmanship plays in shaping their lives and leadership journey.

Essay Prompt:

"How has sportsmanship influenced your development as a leader, teammate, student, and member of your community? Share a personal experience that demonstrates the importance of respect, integrity, resilience, or teamwork, and explain how you will carry these values forward in the future."

Through their essays, applicants are encouraged to connect the lessons learned through sport with their goals, aspirations, and impact on others.

Investing in Character Through Sport

The DeWitt Family Sportsmanship & Leadership Scholarship represents a shared commitment to empowering young people through education and the enduring lessons of sport. By recognizing students who lead with integrity and inspire those around them, the scholarship continues the Rose Bowl Institute's mission to educate, inspire, and develop future leaders through the power of sport.