Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS) is the only national youth sports organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play.  We believe that the standards we have set give these children a sense of responsibility and an appreciation for academics and athletics that will help them develop later on in life.  PWLS has academic guidelines and criteria that need to be met in order for a child to participate.

SCHOLASTIC FITNESS: NATIONAL POLICY

Proof of satisfactory progress in school is required.  A 2.0/70% or the equivalent shall be the minimum grade point average acceptable to participate.  In cases of doubt, conflict of opinion, or if a valid report card is not submitted, the nationally published scholastic eligibility form shall be used and deemed final.

NOTE: This rule as it relates to scholastic grades may not be made more stringent by any team, association, or league, as other rules may be.  No local team/squad may be allowed to participate in Regional/National sponsored championships or bowl games if it has not met the nationally published scholastic requirements.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A 2.0/70% GRADE POINT AVERAGE?

We understand that not all student-athletes are able to meet our scholastic requirements.  If a child does not meet the requirements of scholastic fitness, he/she may fill out and submit a Scholastic Eligibility Form.  This form is to be completed by those participants in the Pop Warner program that have not met the National Scholastic Requirement of 70 percent and/or 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) at the time of certification.  This form must be accompanied by a progressing progress report or report card to be eligible for play.  If no progressing progress report or report card is given in this window then the player shall be found ineligible for the rest of the year.

POP WARNER ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR PROGRAM:

Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner kids compete for Academic All-American status.  The Pop Warner All-American Program requires a minimum 96% grade point average to apply for All-American status.  After the applications have been processed, Pop Warner determines National First Team All-Americans (35 football, 35 cheer per grade), National Second Team All-Americans and National Honorable Mention Scholars.  There is an awards ceremony held every Spring, at the Patriots Stadium in Massachusetts, to acknowledge the recipients of these awards.  Many of them will also be invited to attend the National ceremony, also in the Spring, which is held in various locations throughout the country.

STRATFORD POP WARNER SCHOLASTIC PROGRAM:

Stratford Pop Warner acknowledges all students who have a 90gpa or higher with a scholastic award at our yearly banquet.  First team: students with a 95-100 gpa, and second team: students with a 90-94.9 gpa.  In addition to the scholastic awards, we also give a 5 yr participation award.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

There are two scholarships that are offered every Spring to graduating seniors that have been in the Pop Warner program for a minimum of 3 years.  They are the Robert C. Boss Jr Memorial Scholarship and the Stratford Pop Warner Scholarship.

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Robert C. Boss Jr. Memorial Scholarship 

Established in honor of Robert C. Boss Jr., one of Southern CT Pop Warner Prior Presidents. This academic scholarship will be used to assist high school graduates that participated in a Pop Warner Association as a football player or cheerleader that is enrolled in a college, university or technical/vocational school.

Eligibility requirements:

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria as of the application deadline date to be considered for a possible scholarship.  Deadline to apply is usually May 1st of every year.

Scholarship Requirements:

• Be a senior in high school planning to enroll as a full time undergraduate study at a college, university or vocational/technical school in the fall directly after graduating high school.

• Have been in a Pop Warner Association of a minimum of 3 years.

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

• A completed application. (additional information may be attached if needed)

• School Transcript

• Two written recommendations

• Write an essay: Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure during your time with Pop Warner. How did it affect you and what did you learn from the experience?

Scholarships awarded will be made directly to the college, university or vocational/technical school bursar’s office with proof of enrollment.

Stratford Pop Warner Scholarship

Stratford Pop Warner gives out a minimum of $1000 in scholarships every year.  That money is divided equally amongst qualified applicants that are received and voted upon by the board of directors.  The scholarship requirements are very similar to those stated above and the deadline to apply is usually the last Friday in May.  Recipients will be contacted and presented to our league during our June or July meetings.  All scholarships that are awarded will be made directly to the college, university or technical school.   Applications are accepted from students at Stratford & Bunnell HS, Saint Joes HS, Notre Dame HS and Fairfield Prep HS.  For more information on this scholarship, please contact our Scholastic Coordinator