U.S. Figure Skating will distribute more than $750,000 in the upcoming year to qualified athletes. Below is a listing of scholarships and funding opportunities for U.S. Figure Skating athletes.
Scholarships open December through February
The application window for these scholarships has closed. Check back in December 2024 for the next round of applications.
- Scott Hamilton Skaters Education Fund
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Established by the Pioneer Fund, this scholarship is meant to provide funding to eligible figure skaters who display competitive success and academic commitment as well as financial need.
Criteria:
- Must be an active U.S. Figure Skating member and currently taking undergraduate studies at an accredited university or a high school senior who intends to do so for the entire 2023-24 academic year.
- Self-attest that you have competed at least once in a U.S. Figure Skating qualifying competition at the novice or higher level.
- Synchronized skaters are not eligible.
Note: You must create an account with Formsite in order to fill out the application.
Scholarships open March through May
The application window for these scholarships has closed. Check back in May 2025 for the next round of applications.
- World Team College Scholarship Program
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U.S. Figure Skating and the Pioneer Fund partnered to create the U.S. Figure Skating World Team College Scholarship Program. This program will provide academic assistance to eligible current and former Olympic and senior World Figure Skating Championship team members, from 2010 to present, interested in pursuing full- or part-time undergraduate study.
Criteria:
- Be an Olympic or senior World Championships team member, from 2010 to present
- Be a full- or part-time student enrolled in undergraduate study at an accredited secondary school
- Demonstrate financial need
Scholarships open June through August
The application window for these scholarships is now open.
- Buch Family Academic Scholarship
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In 2013, The Buch Family Academic Scholarship was established to honor the memories of Ilse, Fredric and Peter Buch. The scholarship, based on athletic and academic achievements and financial need, recognizes active amateur skaters who pursue excellence in both their academic and athletic pursuits.
Criteria:
- Be 16 years or older
- Be eligible, active amateur singles, pairs or ice dance skaters and current member of U.S. Figure Skating
- Demonstrate financial need
- Be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student or in his/her senior year of high school intending to attend a higher learning institution within 6 months of graduation
- Be enrolled in a fully-accredited secondary school, attend classes and carry the minimum number of credit hours necessary to be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student
- Maintain at least a 3.4 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) or 93% (based on a 100% scale) during the last two academic years
- Have competed in a U.S. Figure Skating qualifying competition at the novice, junior or senior level during the past two competitive seasons or equivalent
- Recipients will not be coaches, professionals or a member of only a synchronized skating team
- DREAM Scholarship for Synchronized Skaters
- In 2019, the Dream Scholarship for Synchronized Skaters was created from the Synchronized Skating Athlete Support Fund. This scholarship was created for synchronized skaters who are passionate and invested in the future of the sport. A $500 scholarship will be awarded to two (2) skaters that competed in one of the following levels during the previous season: one (1) preliminary, pre-juvenile, or juvenile level skater and one (1) open juvenile, intermediate, or novice level skater.
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- Must be a rostered synchronized skater from the previous competitive season and be in good standing with U.S. Figure Skating
- Athlete must submit an essay as part of the application process
- Joyce Komperda Athlete Support Fund
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In September 2009, Joyce Komperda, a longtime friend of U.S. Figure Skating, made a generous gift to establish the Joyce Komperda Athlete Support Fund. The fund is intended to provide financial assistance for intermediate, novice and junior-level athletes who demonstrate financial need.
Criteria:
- Be a singles, pairs or ice dance competitor at the intermediate through junior levels
- Complete the grant application above with his or her parents/guardians
- The Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund
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The Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund financially assists and supports the training and development of promising Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) figure skaters with the goal of helping them realize and achieve their maximum athletic potential.
Inspired by the ideals and values of U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame member Mabel Fairbanks, annual awards are executed by the joint efforts of U.S. Figure Skating and the Lisa McGraw Figure Skating Foundation. Awards will be given to figure skating athletes who demonstrate and emphasize the attributes of good sportsmanship, commitment, perseverance and determination in striving to be their very best in the sport.
Criteria:
- The selection will account for athletes who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC).
- Applicants/nominees must be current members of U.S. Figure Skating and active competitors in the disciplines of singles, pairs or ice dance.
- Applicants/nominees must have competed at a U.S. Figure Skating sectional final event at the juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior or senior level once during the past two competitive seasons or equivalent and must be registered to compete in the current season. Note: You must create an account with Formsite in order to fill out the application.
- Competitive Skaters Assistance Program
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The Competitive Skaters Assistance Program (CSAP) is intended to subsidize the training expenses incurred by competitive figure skaters.
Criteria:
- Competed at U.S. Figure Skating Sectional Final or U.S. Figure Skating Championships during competitive season and are registered to compete in the current year; and
- Have a sixth place or higher finish at a singles/pairs/ice dance Sectional Final at the novice, junior and senior-level or have a fourth-place or higher finish at the juvenile or intermediate levels during last year's competitive season; or
- Have a 10th place or higher finish at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the junior or senior-level during last year's competitive season; or
- Received a competition bye to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships during last year's competitive season and have met the placement criteria stated above.
- Academic Scholarship Program
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The Academic Scholarship Program (ASP) assists current and former skaters enrolled in an accredited college or university and are still actively involved in the sport of figure skating. Applicants must have completed high school to be eligible.
Criteria:
Figure skaters who are competing or have competed at the sectional championships at the novice level or higher; or Synchronized skaters who are competing or have competed at the sectional synchronized skating championships at the senior or collegiate level; or- Download ASP Volunteer Form here.
- Former skaters who are currently participating in volunteer work in skating (e.g. judging, trial judging, officiating, committee member, etc.)
- Must carry at least six credit hours per semester (undergraduate) or three credit hours per semester (graduate student)
- Must possess a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or 3.75 or higher on a 5.0 scale
- RISE Youth Essay Contest
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The RISE Youth Essay Contest provides an opportunity for younger skaters to connect with figure skating's history and receive financial support. Applicants share their personal reflections on the movie RISE, which celebrates the history of American figure skating and documents the impact that the 1961 World Team had on both the sport and the skaters who came after them. Criteria:
- Figure skaters who are currently competing at the pre-preliminary, preliminary, pre-juvenile, or juvenile level or;
- Synchronized skaters who are currently competing at the preliminary, pre-juvenile, or juvenile level.
- Are currently ineligible to receive Memorial Fund CSAP and/or ASP funding (i.e. eligible applicants have not yet finished sixth or higher at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the intermediate or juvenile levels).
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Scholarships open July through September
- Scholastic Honors Team
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U.S. Figure Skating and the Pioneer Fund have joined to support the U.S. Figure Skating Scholastic Honors Team, designed to recognized high school-age U.S. Figure Skating members who have distinguished themselves in figure skating, high school academics and community involvement. Criteria:
- Be an eligible skater and current member of U.S. Figure Skating
- Be a full-time student entering his or her junior or senior year of high school in the fall
- Be enrolled in a fully-accredited secondary school, attend classes and carry the minimum number of credit hours necessary to be a full-time student.
- Maintain at least a 3.4 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) or 93% (based on a 100% scale) during the last two years
- Must have competed in a U.S. Figure Skating qualifying competition at the novice, junior or senior level during the past two competitive seasons
If you have questions about U.S. Figure Skating scholarships, awards or grants, please reach out to financialaid@usfigureskating.org.
