C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarships

Eugene Cato and the IHSAA

The Centennial Scholarship program was initiated in 2003-04 as a part of the IHSAA’s centennial celebration. Beginning in 2009-10, the annual scholarship awards program was been renamed in tribute to former IHSAA Commissioner C. Eugene Cato. “Gene” served as Assistant Commissioner of the Association from 1976 until he became the Commissioner of the IHSAA in 1983 - providing leadership until he retired in 1995. His passion for athletics and his belief in the intrinsic value of athletic competition on the formation of a child’s character enabled Gene to positively impact generations of young men and women with his well-known “Firm, Fair, and Friendly” approach to caring for others. Gene passed away in October of 2008.

Scholarship Criteria

- During the 2024-25 school year, the student must be enrolled and participate in interscholastic athletics at an IHSAA member school.

- The student must be a senior at the IHSAA member school who will graduate during the school year for which the award is being applied for.

- The student must have won a varsity letter as an athlete in at least one of the 24 IHSAA-sanctioned athletic programs.

- The student must be nominated by the principal or athletic director.

- The student must have a minimum of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or the equivalent.

- The student must have no violations of his/her school's athletic code of conduct.

Application Process

Applications for the C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Awards are available on the IHSAA portal website (www.myihsaa.net) each school year. Member school principals and athletic directors will be notified each year when the application become available. The member school is responsible for establishing the process by which its nominee is selected. A member school may nominate only one student-athlete per year and should submit the application to the IHSAA by February 14, 2025.

The school Principal or Athletic Director should initiate the nomination process. To nominate an athlete, click here to login and complete the application. After completing the form, the information will be electronically sent to the nominated student. Once the student completes their section, the form will be electronically returned to the Principal/Athletic Director for a final review and submission to the IHSAA. If you have any questions on this process, please contact IHSAA Foundation Director, Trip Lukemeyer, at tlukemeyer@ihsaa.org or 317-846-6601.