Highlands students are eligible for the scholarship and we encourage you to apply.
Scholarship awards are determined by an Advisory Committee made up of people who know and love the Highlands tradition. They select “student-athletes” who have demonstrated athleticism, character and intellect, and intend to pursue a career in education.
Deadline: March 24th 2025
Homer Rice, principal founder of the Scholarship, died on June 10, 2024. Coach Rice was coached at Highlands High School by Judge Waddell, and was later hired by Judge to succeed him as head football coach at Highlands. Coach Rice was a decorated high school and collegiate player who went on to coach at the high school, college and professional levels. He finished his career as Athletic Director at Georgia Tech, where he is honored with, among other things, buildings bearing his name and a statue alongside John Heisman and Bobby Dodd outside the Georgia Tech stadium. He was the author of several books, and created the “Total Person” concept that is the basis for sports leadership programs in dozens of colleges and universities today.
We hope you will help us in this effort. Your gift will help remember a great man, help perpetuate the intellectual and athletic values we all believe in, help young people improve and complete themselves, and help supply the teachers, coaches and mentors that future generations of young people will need. We think that’s a great investment.
Scholarship recipients will be “student-athletes” who have demonstrated athleticism, character and intellect, and intend to pursue a career in education. Recipients will be chosen by an Advisory Committee made up of people who know and love the Highlands tradition.
Alyssa is described as ‘a leader, compassionate, positive mindset, inclusive, role model, hard worker, devoted player, always willing to help’. Alyssa ‘pushes her teammates to be the best, but also knows the right words of encouragement… will be an outstanding teacher and coach one day… her future students and players will love her’ and ‘ is one of the most admirable students I’ve ever encountered… is the epitome of a young lady and a role model… consistently goes above and beyond… her compassion and empathy are visible in the community.’
Abe is described as ‘a truly special young man… a fantastic student who shows an incredible desire to learn… the type of student who can change the dynamic of a school… he speaks to everyone when he enters a room and thanks his teacher as he leaves… has an uplifting effect on the morale inside our classrooms’ and ‘genuinely cares about those around him… his effort and energy were infectious… completes his work with excellence… a young man of the utmost integrity, character, and humility’.
Bycen is described as having ‘the highest level of character and integrity that we all want represented in the teaching profession’ and as ‘an advocate for all students… kind to everyone on a daily basis’.
Megan is described as ‘kind, ethical, diligent, and well-grounded… not only is she a leader on the court and in the locker room, she is a leader amongst the student body’ and ‘a well-rounded, caring, and responsible young woman… what makes Meghan truly stand out from her peers is her character and drive to better the lives of those around her’.