CALHOPE COURAGE AWARD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM RECOGNIZES CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

$62,500 in college scholarships will honor high school seniors who turn adversity into achievement

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Building upon three years of celebrating resilience among collegiate student-athletes with the CalHOPE Courage Award initiative, CalHOPE today unveiled a statewide program awarding $62,500 in college scholarships to California high school senior student-athletes who have overcome personal adversity to excel in athletics, academics, and their communities. The CalHOPE Courage Award Scholarship Program is supported by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which oversees CalHOPE, and by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).  

Honorees will be selected through June 2026, with a CalHOPE panel of mental health advocates choosing recipients monthly. Each will earn a $2,500 college scholarship, and their comeback story - whether from injury, illness, family hardship, academic pressure, or other stressors - will be shared to inspire and encourage peers facing similar challenges. Their high school athletic department will also receive a $500 grant to support future student-athletes.

"CalHOPE is proud to spotlight the courage and determination shown by many remarkable high school student-athletes across our state," said Autumn Boylan, Deputy Director of DHCS' Office of Strategic Partnerships. "By telling their stories, they can remind other young people that resilience is built through community support. We hope these scholarships—and the example set by each recipient—will encourage others to seek help and keep moving forward."

Applications are open through May 1, 2026, at CalHOPECourageAwardScholarship.org. High school seniors interested in applying and open to sharing their story publicly must complete a pair of short essays about their personal adversity and their high school athletic accomplishments. One application keeps students under consideration for every monthly award.

ABOUT CalHOPE
CalHOPE is a multi-level campaign managed by DHCS to connect people with vital mental health and wellness resources and information to help them navigate times of crisis. CalHOPE offers critical behavioral health crisis counseling programs and uses a public health approach that focuses on strength-based strategies for building resiliency and connecting people to needed support. CalHOPE partners with the California Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being to promote the CalHOPE Courage Award. CalHOPE resources may be accessed by calling the program's warm line at (833) 317-HOPE (4673) or visiting www.calhope.org.

SOURCE CalHOPE Courage Award Scholarship Program