2022 Scholar Chess Player Awards: March 1 Deadline Approaching!

NOTE: The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. PST. 

If you are a high school junior or senior looking for scholarship money, read on!

If you are a current US Chess member, you are eligible to apply for a 2022 National Scholar Chess Player Award and new special award The Junior Chess Ambassador (for players rated under 2000) if:

• You played in at least 25 regular-rated US Chess or FIDE events held from dates November 24, 2020 through December 31, 2021. (Games with a Time Control less than Game-30 delay-0 do not count toward the 25-game requirement.)
• You have shown outstanding achievement in academics and chess.
• You have completed at least one year of chess-related community service since you started the 9th grade.
• You can demonstrate in an essay (of 500 words or less) how your being selected as a 2021 Scholar Chess Player enables you to further your education, improve your chess, and continue contributing to the chess community for the next five years of your life.

The scholarships are provided by the US Chess Trust, with a generous, supporting contribution from the National Scholastic Chess Foundation (NSCF), to recognize and encourage outstanding high school students who promote a positive image of chess. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible.

Applications should be submitted using the online form https://forms.gle/V8naJgsZLepcamKH7. Documents (.doc, .pdf and other usual extensions) can be uploaded to your application via this form.

Your completed application must include the following:

• Submitted application form via https://forms.gle/V8naJgsZLepcamKH7 
• Your uploaded high school transcripts showing all courses and grades.
• Your SAT or ACT scores.
• Evidence, listed in the form or uploaded separately, that you have played at least 25 US Chess or FIDE qualifying rated games held from dates November 24, 2020 through December 31, 2021.
• A list and brief description of your best chess accomplishments.
• Examples of your chess-related community service since 9th grade or later.
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher in a current or former school you have attended in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
• A letter of recommendation from a Chess Coach or Tournament Director.
• A letter of support from someone other than a parent or guardian, bearing witness to the nature, duration and impact of your chess-related community service. We also encourage you to submit newspaper articles or web-based stories as evidence.
• Your essay uploaded in the application form of no more than 500 words describing how your being recognized as a Scholar Chess player would help you continue contributing to the greater US Chess community over the next five years.
• A recent color photograph of yourself, either a headshot or full-length.

Deadline for submitting the application is March 1, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the selection committee.

Awards will be announced at the 2022 National High School Chess Championship in Memphis, TN on April 9th. Recipients in attendance will be recognized in person. Participation in the tournament is not required for eligibility.

If you have any questions regarding this form, or if you need technical assistance in completing it, please contact Korey Kormick, US Chess, at (931) 787-8783, or email Click here to show email address and write “2022 Scholar-Chess Player Award” in the subject line.