TO:                 High School Principal and Athletic Director (please share with School Counselor)
DATE:            September 5, 2018
SUBJECT:      Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union Programs

E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Award 
The E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Award is a scholarship established in tribute to the man most responsible for making the “Iowa Girl” number one in the nation. The profile of the recipient should reflect discipline, perseverance, character, superior athletic skill, leadership, academic achievement and citizenship traits that have personified the life and expectation of the late Dr. E. Wayne Cooley.

Financial awards are given to six finalists. Five finalists will receive a $1,000 scholarship grant. The E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Award winner will receive a $15,000 scholarship ($3,750 annually). All nominees will receive a plaque commemorating their nomination by their school. The recipients must be enrolled full-time in an IGHSAU-member Iowa high school as a senior and be an Iowa resident. The recipient shall use the scholarship to pay expenses billed by the Iowa college/university of her choice.

Each high school is limited to one nomination. It will be the responsibility of the local administration to determine guidelines for their nominee’s selection. Detailed instructions and the application for the E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship can be found on the IGHSAU website in the Academic Scholarship section under the Coaches & Administrators tab in the Documents and Forms section or by clicking here. The application due date is December 31, 2018.

Robert Smiley Scholarship Award 
The Robert Smiley Scholarship is offered by the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union and the Smiley Family in honor of the longtime IGHSAU Associate Executive Secretary who passed away in 2003.        

In recognition of Bob Smiley’s work towards ensuring the Iowa Girl is a leader of her peers, the IGHSAU created a scholarship to honor his legacy. The Robert Smiley Scholarship is for senior girls enrolled full-time in an Iowa high school. The recipient must have a minimum 2.5 GPA (4.0 scale). She must have lettered in one varsity sport sponsored by the IGHSAU each year of high school. There was a special place in Bob’s heart for the underdog. Therefore, extra attention will be given to the application showing a specific need.

Each high school is limited to one nomination, with the local administration determining guidelines for their nominee’s selection. The value of the Robert Smiley Scholarship is $1,000 to be used to pay expenses billed by the Iowa college/university of her choice. Detailed instructions and the application for the Robert Smiley Scholarship can be found on the IGHSAU website in the Academic Scholarship section under the Coaches & Administrators tab in the Documents and Forms section or by clicking here.  The application due date is April 12, 2019. 

IGHSAU Coaching Authorization Clinic
The IGHSAU will not be sponsoring a coaching authorization clinic this summer. Those wanting to obtain a coaching authorization can contact their local AEA or community college for coaching authorization information.

Character Counts Coach of the Year Nomination
The CHARACTER COUNTS Coach of the Year Award honors a worthy coach who embodies the Six Pillars of Character—Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Rather than spotlight winning records and isolated acts of heroism or generosity, the Award was conceived to recognize individuals whose coaching lives and achievements demonstrate an enduring commitment to qualities associated with good character.

A $1,000 cash award will be made in the name of the recipient to their respective athletic department to further enhance character development initiatives. The winner will be recognized during the 2018 Girls State Basketball Tournament.  The Character Counts Coach of the Year nomination form can be found on the IGHSAU website in the Academic Scholarship section under the Coaches & Administrators tab in the Documents and Forms section or by clicking here.  The application due date is January 21, 2019.

On-A-Roll Academic Program
The IGHSAU established the On-A-Roll program to honor students who show improvement, but may not have experienced academic success or have honor roll level grades.  If the student improves her semester/trimester GPA up to .32 she receives a certificate.  If she improves her semester/trimester GPA by .33 or above she receives a medallion. If the student maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA she will receive a certificate.

Participants must have participated in an IGHSAU-sanctioned sport or cheerleading/drill team the previous semester/trimester as well as the current semester/trimester. The semester/trimester grade is compared to their previous semester/trimester grade point to determine their grade point increase. Participation from high schools and junior highs is encouraged but not required.  On-A-Roll forms can be found on the IGHSAU website in the Awards Applications section under the Coaches & Administrators tab in the Documents and Forms section or by clicking here. Completed forms must be filled out electronically and emailed to [email protected].

Academic Achievement Awards 
The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union recognizes teams and cheerleading squads that have collectively excelled in the classroom.  Schools wanting to participate in the Academic Achievement Awards program must submit their application as described below.  Any school participating in this program will receive an IGHSAU Plaque of Honor to display in their school.  Each team that achieves these honors will be supplied with a “label” that can be displayed on their school’s appropriate awards plaque.  In addition, each girl on the team will receive a certificate for their personal accomplishment.

There are two Academic Achievement Awards that can be earned:
Excellence in Academic Achievement Award – This award is given to teams achieving a combined grade point average of 3.0-3.24.

Distinguished in Academic Achievement Award – This award is given to teams achieving a combined grade point average of 3.25 and above.

Instructions for completing forms:
1.  The “team” includes all high school students in a specific interscholastic competition. The "team" is made up of all squad members, grades 10-12, or if your school has 9th grade students who are part of the high school squad, their grades will be included with the team average.  Example:  You have one high school basketball team, which includes varsity, junior varsity, freshman and any other high school students participating in the competition. Managers are included as team members.  Your grade point average should be figured on a 4-point system:  A = 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; D = 1.0.  Total all team members’ GPA and divide by the number of team members, including managers, which will equal team GPA. The Academic Achievement form can be found on the IGHSAU website in the Awards Applications section under the Coaches & Administrators tab in the Documents and Forms section or by clicking here.

2.  Student with special educational needs are not to be included in grade point averages, but will be award recipients.  Students with special educational needs must be verified as progressing in their individual program at the expected rate.

3.  Awards will be awarded AFTER each of the following grading periods:
First 9 weeks/ 1st semesterThird 9 weeks/ 2nd semesterFourth 9 weeks/2nd semester
Cross Country                                Basketball                                            Track
Volleyball                                        Basketball Cheerleading                    Tennis
Swimming                                      Bowling                                                 Golf
Volleyball Cheerleading                                                                               Soccer
                                                                                                                         Softball
4.  Cheerleading squads are eligible for academic achievement awards.  Cheerleading squads for boys' sports should mail their application to the IHSAA in Boone.  The procedure used in applying for the awards with the IGHSAU is the same as specified in points 1-3 above.

Please contact the IGHSAU with questions you may have with the above information. 

Lisa Brinkmeyer 
IGHSAU Assistant Director
515-401-1835
[email protected]