2026 Unsung Heroes Scholarship Application
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McCormick's Unsung Heroes program was founded by the late Charles Perry McCormick, Sr. in 1940. The mission of the program is to recognize athletes for unselfish team play and highlight the efforts of those who contribute to the success of their teams without acclaim.
We invite area high school Athletic Directors to consult with your school's leadership and coaching staff to nominate one male and/or female student athlete as your Unsung Hero(es). The student athlete must be a senior and have played on a sports team. All Unsung Heroes will be celebrated at an event on May 11, 2026.
From this group, one female and one male honoree will be selected to receive $40,000 C.P. McCormick Scholarship Awards, which are college scholarships valued at $10,000 per year for each of their four academic years. As second and third place winners, one female and one male honoree will be selected to receive a one-time scholarship gift of $7,500 each (second place), and one female and one male honoree will be selected to receive a one-time scholarship gift of $5,000 each (third place). Scholarship awards will be announced at the event, and all nominees are expected to be present.
The nomination form serves as the sole basis for evaluation by the selection committees. Your careful attention to provide compelling comments and specific examples explaining why the candidate is an Unsung Hero will be the basis for their consideration as a scholarship recipient. We stress that this award is NOT for personal hardships.
It is essential that you upload a flattering, high quality photo of your nominee. The photo will be shown during the banquet program and may be used for other purposes related to the McCormick Unsung Heroes Program.
The 86th Annual McCormick Unsung Heroes Awards will be held in May 2026. McCormick will provide full event details on the scholarship presentation later this year.