Help Southern California students play organized sports.

Why this scholarship exists

Watching my own daughters wrestle, I saw how much it costs a family to let a child compete, and how many talented, dedicated kids never get the chance because of money.

Sean Hashmi, MD, founder

SELF Principle exists to reduce barriers to better health. For a young athlete, that barrier may be the cost of registration, competition, approved travel, or basic equipment.

What support can cover

Up to $500 per student

Awards may cover league or club registration, tournament entry, approved travel costs, or basic equipment and gear. SELF Principle pays the approved league, club, program, or vendor directly. Support is not provided as cash to a family.

The current $5,000 scholarship funding stage can support up to ten awards at the $500 maximum. Awards may be smaller, and the number of recipients depends on eligible applications and available funding.

Who can apply?

Students in grades 4 through 8 who live in Southern California may apply when they:

• Maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher, or strong grades if their school does not calculate a GPA.
• Contribute at home, at school, on a team, or in the community.
• Are committed to a sport and need support to continue participating, training, or competing.
• Demonstrate financial need.

How to apply

A parent or legal guardian begins with a short first-step application. It collects only the information needed to review initial eligibility and contact the family.

• Parent or legal guardian name and email
• The student’s first name, grade, city, and sport
• The type of support requested and estimated amount, up to $500
• One brief parent or guardian response about the barrier this support would address

Do not upload or include report cards, tax documents, bank information, medical information, Social Security numbers, immigration information, or other sensitive records. If a student is invited to continue, SELF Principle will provide separate instructions.

How recipients are chosen

Applications are reviewed by a volunteer committee that may include teachers, coaches, clinicians, and professionals from different fields. No single reviewer decides an award. Relatives of the founder and committee members are not eligible. Reviewers consider academic effort, contribution at home, school, on a team, or in the community, commitment to the student’s sport, and financial need.