s of colleges and universities. Josh has not shown this, but under the proposed system, he may be awarded a scholarship instead of Tim.The reasons for including athletic ability in scholarship criteria do not relate directly to scholastic achievement and learning, however, they are just as important because of the benefits that good athletic programs bring. Athletic programs generate millions of dollars in revenue for many schools based on how good they are. This money is used to fund many of the less lucrative (but necessary) programs that the school endorses. The quality of athletic programs is directly related to the talent of its athletes. Therefore, athletic ability should remain a major factor in scholarship awards.Opponents to including athletic ability in scholarship selection criteria may be right when they say that sports do not directly relate to learning institutions, but economic standing does not either. The amount of money in a student’s pocket has nothing to do with how well that individual can benefit the university. Talented athletes, however, generate money and positive exposure for the school. The poor student does neither. The special students should be rewarded for the benefits they bring to the school. The same example of Tim and Josh can be used again in this case. This time, Tim is an all-state running back while Josh has no extracurricular activities and both have the same economic standing. It would not be fair to judge these two individuals in the same way. One student has proven that he can contribute to the athletic program which, in turn, benefits the school while the other has not. Scholarships were created to reward individuals who exhibited talent that would benefit the college. If they were to be awarded on a financial basis only, it would hurt the reputation of the school due to less qualified students and hindered athletic programs. In addition, the proposed system would set a bad e...
