Cavaliers Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Cleveland Cavaliers

Overview
The Cavaliers Scholarship Program, supported by Huntington Bank, awards five $10,000 scholarships and five $1,000 Huntington savings accounts to graduating high school students from specified counties in Ohio. Below are the eligibility rules, application requirements, selection process, award details, and important deadlines.

Who is eligible
- You must attend high school in one of these Ohio counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, or Wayne.
- Employees and immediate family members of the NBA, Cavaliers Holdings, Huntington Bank, or their parent companies, affiliates, or subsidiaries are NOT eligible.
- Participation in basketball is not a factor in judging extracurricular achievement.

How to apply (required materials)
Complete the official online entry form and submit the following:
- High school transcript showing academic record through your junior year.
- One letter of recommendation from a faculty member at your high school.
- A 500-word essay responding to: “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”
- SAT or ACT scores only if those scores are required or requested by the accredited school you plan to attend.

Deadlines and dates
- Application deadline: completed applications must be received by Friday, February 6, 2026.
- Semi-finalist interviews: on or around the week of March 9, 2026.
- Notification of recipients: around March 20, 2026 (by email, phone, and official letter).
- Scholarship announcement and presentation: Sunday, April 12, 2026.
- Savings account recipients will receive tickets to a Cavaliers game on a separate date.

Selection process
- Cavaliers Community Foundation (CCF) and Huntington will appoint a selection committee made up of local community leaders and employees of Huntington and Cavaliers Holdings. Committee decisions are final and made at their sole discretion.
- The committee will screen applications, interview semi-finalists, select five $10,000 scholarship recipients, and select five runners-up to receive $1,000 Huntington savings accounts.
- If a selected scholarship recipient does not accept the award or decides not to attend college or pursue post‑high school education, an alternate recipient will be chosen.

Evaluation criteria
Applications and candidates will be judged on:
- Academic achievement (including SAT/ACT if applicable)
- Extracurricular activity (work experience, community involvement, etc.)
- Essay
- Financial need
- Interview performance

Award details — Scholarship ($10,000)
- The $10,000 scholarship is a one-time, non‑renewable award.
- Funds must be used during the 2026–27 academic year and applied to costs for college, vocational/trade school, or similar education that leads to certification or a degree.
- Eligible expenses include tuition, fees, books, and on‑campus room and board. Recipients must provide proof of how the funds were used.

Award details — Huntington Savings Account ($1,000)
- The savings account includes a one-time $1,000 deposit.
- Funds must be used for verifiable education‑related costs (tuition, fees, books, etc.). Recipients must provide proof of how the funds were used.
- Account details:
- A one‑year waiver of the Huntington maintenance fee is included. After one year, the student must either continue under Huntington’s standard account terms or close the account. Note: other fees (for non‑Huntington ATM transactions or other services) may still apply.
- Huntington will provide instructions for opening the account, securing the maintenance fee waiver, and depositing funds.

Taxes and other responsibilities
- Winners (or their parents/legal guardians) are solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with the award.
- Additional information may be requested from awardees to process the scholarship or savings account.

Questions
If you need clarification about the rules or requirements, contact the program organizers (contact details are provided on the official entry form).