General Information About the B.J. Stupak Scholarship Program

What is the B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship Program?
The B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship Program is a federally funded grant program designed to provide financial assistance to a select group of Olympic aspiring student athletes.  The program is named in honor of Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak’s son who died tragically while still in high school in May 2000.  Congressman Stupak has been instrumental in getting this scholarship program authorized and funded by Congress. 

Who is eligible for the Stupak Scholarship Program?
Any resident athlete who is approved by his or her National Governing Body and the U.S. Olympic Committee to live and train at one of the Olympic Training Centers in Colorado Springs, Lake Placid and Chula Vista, or the Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University may be eligible. Eligible student athletes must be pursuing an education at a Title IV eligible post-secondary institution and meet all rules regarding eligibility for federal financial aid as defined by the institution they attend (i.e. satisfactory academic progress).  To receive the full scholarship, athletes must also be at least one-half time students.

How much of a grant might a student athlete receive?
Student athletes may be eligible for a grant up to the full “cost of attendance,” not exceeding a total of $20,000 annually. The cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, books, room and board, other miscellaneous educational expenses, and up to $500 per semester (two semesters per year limit) for sports specific expenses. In general, each university determines its own cost of attendance. 

Does every student athlete receive the same amount?
No. The grant amount will vary according to the cost of attendance at each university. Student athletes who are enrolled as less than one-half time students, and athletes who receive room and/or board from the USOC are not eligible for the room and board portion of the scholarship.  Scholarships may be reduced if students have received a Pell Grant, G.I. Bill, or other form of gift financial aid. This is done to ensure that the total of all financial aid awards does not exceed the cost of attendance. Scholarships may also be reduced if the federal appropriation is insufficient to cover the total need for all qualified applicants. In order to qualify for an award and to remain eligible for future awards, student athletes must be making satisfactory academic progress as defined by their institution of choice.

Who administers the program?
Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., serves as the administer of the program for all eligible Olympic-aspiring resident athletes at each of the OTC’s. NMU is well suited for this task as it is home to the United States Olympic Education Center, and because the university already works closely with the U.S. Department of Education on many federal financial aid programs.       

How Do I Apply for a Scholarship?
Simply perform the following steps to apply for an Olympic scholarship award:

1. Apply for acceptance to your school of choice.
2. Submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education.  FAFSA’s can be obtained at the financial aid office at most universities or at an OTC.  The form can also be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Be sure to include the university that you plan to attend on the list of institutions to receive this information from the U.S. Department of Education.  This form must be submitted and the verification process completed before a scholarship can be awarded.
3. Register for classes and pay all appropriate tuition and fees. Keep receipts for all charges.
4. Complete the Olympic scholarship application. The form must be signed by the director or the associate director at the OTC where you are a resident athlete. 
5. Return the completed Olympic scholarship application to the address below by the appropriate deadline.  Student athletes may still submit an application after the deadline, but scholarships will only be awarded if funds are still available. 
6. Approximately four to six weeks after the application deadline, NMU will notify the university of your scholarship eligibility.
7. Once the drop/add period is completed at your university of choice, NMU will confirm your final cost of attendance with the institution.  After your final cost of attendance has been verified, your scholarship will be sent directly to the university. The university may retain some of the scholarship to pay any outstanding bills you owe or forward the balance to you as financial aid overage.

For more information, please call Jeff Kleinschmidt or Tony Tollefson at 906-227-2888, or send an e-mail message to jkleinsc@nmu.edu or ttollefs@nmu.edu.   

Reminder: Meeting the satisfactory progress requirement at your institution of choice is a requirement for continued eligibility for the B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship Program.

Please mail your completed application to:

Mr. Jeff Kleinschmidt, Director
United States Olympic Education Center
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI  49855