Scholarships, Awards and Grants

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS AND GRANTS

U.S. Figure Skating will distribute more than $750,000 in the upcoming year to qualified athletes.

Skater Ava Zakrzewski on the impact of U.S. Figure Skating scholarships such as the Scott Hamilton Education Fund:

“This scholarship has made such an impact on my family and I during my college journey. I have received two Scott Hamilton scholarships so far, earning a total of $14,000 dollars. All of this money has gone towards my tuition and greatly eased my financial worries. Being in the sport of figure skating my whole life has made me into the person I am. I find it amazing that U.S. Figure Skating is able to give back after all of my years in the sport.”

SCHOLARSHIPS OPENING SPRING 2027

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:
Be a high school senior, high school graduate or a current postsecondary undergraduate
Plan to enroll in full time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire 2026-27 academic year
Self-attest that they have competed at least once in a U.S. Figure Skating qualifying competition at the novice or higher level in either singles, pairs or ice dance

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
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 planning to attend a higher learning institution within six 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

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
The Memorial Fund 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:
• Be enrolled in a degreed program at a college or university
• Maintain 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.

Current Skaters:
• Be a singles, pairs or ice dance competitor who has competed at a U.S. Figure Skating Sectional Championships or U.S Ice Dance or Pairs Final at the novice, junior or senior level in the last two years; or
• Be a synchronized skater who has competed at the Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships at the senior or collegiate level in the last two years; or
• Be a skater who has qualified for the Excel Final or Solo Dance Final at the junior or senior level in the last two years

Former Skaters (The status of a former skater begins the year after a skater's last competition):
• Former skaters must be currently volunteering in skating (e.g. judging, trial judging, officiating, committee member, etc.) with at least 25 volunteer hours per season, and meet all other academic criteria
The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
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 the competitive season and are registered to compete in the current year; and
Have a sixth place or higher finish at a singles, pairs or ice dance Sectional Final at the novice, junior or 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.

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
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 skaters that competed in one of the following levels during the previous season: one preliminary, pre-juvenile, or juvenile level skater and one open juvenile, intermediate, or novice level skater.
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

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
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:
Identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC).
Be current members of U.S. Figure Skating and an active competitor in singles, pairs or ice dance.
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.

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
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:
Be a figure skater who is currently competing at the pre-preliminary, preliminary, pre-juvenile or juvenile level or;
Be a synchronized skater who is currently competing at the preliminary, pre-juvenile or juvenile level.
Are currently ineligible to receive the 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).

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
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 Figure Skating World 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

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.
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

The application window for this scholarship has closed and applications are now under review. Please check back in the Spring of 2027 for updates.

If you have questions about U.S. Figure Skating scholarships, awards or grants, please reach out to financialaid@usfigureskating.org.