The Ron Finley Scholarship Fund
Postmark Deadline:
April 30, 2023
We’re Furthering College Opportunities for Oregon’s Most Dedicated Student-Athletes.
“Save Oregon Wrestling Foundation and the Ron Finley Scholarship Fund seek to ensure the stability and future of wrestling in the State of Oregon — and to provide tomorrow’s leaders an opportunity to succeed in the classroom and on the mat.”
Creating Opportunity
The heart of our mission is to boost educational opportunities for young men and women seeking to wrestle in college. It was Coach Ron Finley’s wish that while we continue to seek the reinstatement of Oregon Wrestling, we find an additional way to help our state’s student-athletes pursue a college wrestling experience.
The Ron Finley Scholarship Fund was established to provide one-time grants to outstanding student-athletes who are graduating from Oregon high schools and intend to wrestle at the collegiate level. This year, we are awarding one $3,000 and two $1,000 scholarships. Winners are chosen by our scholarship committee and based upon merit. You can read more about our selection process below.
Our very best wishes to all of the dedicated athletes who apply.
Competitive Academic Scholarship Requirements
❑ High School GPA: Minimum high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on file with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by May 15. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may qualify with a minimum SAT or ACT test score…
❑ Standardized Test Score: Lower GPA of 3.0 requires a minimum 21 ACT composite score, OR, 1470 SAT (Math+Reading+Writing) total score on file with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by May 15. Minimum test scores are based on the composite or total score from one test date. Combined scores, also known as a super-score, from two or more tests will not be considered for scholarship awards. Students who do not meet either the minimum GPA or minimum test score requirement cannot be considered for scholarship awards.
❑ IN ADDITION: Applicants for an academic scholarship must be Oregon residents, must have applied for admission and have a high school transcript with a qualifying GPA or test score on file with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by May 15. Also, applicants must be admitted to a wrestling program at the college they will attend.
Our Process
Curious about how we select scholarship winners? Read how we do it.
After the April 30th deadline, our committee goes to work.
2013 scholarship winners, left to right.
Colton Schilling, Sweet Home
Alex Harnsberger, Hillsboro
Reed Van Anrooy, Roseburg
Coach Ron Finley
Ben Ballard, Monroe
1. INDIVIDUAL JUDGING
Our committee members do not collaborate when judging applications. Judging is based on the merits of each applicant’s information.
2. Application Review
Committee members judge each applicant’s information to issue a separate score in each of these 10 categories, listed in no particular order:
- essay
- leadership experience
- class rank
- test scores
- grades
- extracurricular activities
- wrestling experience
- awards & recognition
- community service
- letters of recommendation
3. Non Comparative Judging
Each application is reviewed separately and judged strictly on the merits for each of the 10 judging categories. Applications are not compared to each other during the judging process.
4. Judges Score Submission
Once all applications have been scored, (pre-weighted score), the judge will then submit each category score for each student’s application to our private online “score” database, using our electronic submission form. Once all judges have submitted their scores, weighted scores are then calculated.
5. Weighted Category Scores
Each of the 10 judging categories are given a number from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important category factor. The judge’s score in each category is multiplied by this weighted number in each category, to produce a total score for each category. Judges are not provided the weighted number assigned to each category.
6. Grand totals
Once all student applications have been judged and all category scores submitted, a grand total for each student is automatically calculated to produce the top 3 finalists, with the top finalist having the highest total score.
7. Scholarship Awards Announced
We will immediately send email notices to all student applicants to let them know if they are a finalist or not. We do not inform the student of their ranking, at this time.
8. Scholarship Certificates are Mailed
A couple of weeks after judging, the student finalists are mailed their award certificate with a congratulatory letter from the Board of Directors. In the Fall, we will send a check to the student’s college to be applied to their tuition.
Request a Scholarship Application
Application requests are only accepted from January 1 to April 30. Complete the following information, then click on the submit button, below.
Paul Fenley, President
paul@saveoregonwrestling.org
Kelly Finley-Sopp, CEO
kelly@saveoregonwrestling.org