Netspend and the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund are proud to offer five (5) HEAT Scholarships each valued at $10,000.00 available to high school seniors who excel in academics and community service:
- Three (3) Miami HEAT Scholarships
- One (1) Dr. Jack Ramsay Scholarship
- One (1) Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship
Miami HEAT Scholarship: Awarded to students who have excelled in academics & community service and have demonstrated a financial need.
Dr. Jack Ramsay Scholarship: Awarded to a student who has excelled in academics & community service and has demonstrated a financial need.
Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship: Awarded to a student who excels in academics & community service, participates in a sport and has demonstrated a financial need.
APPLICATION GUIDELINESDEADLINE: February 8, 2025
Applications are due by Saturday, February 8, 2025. Completed applications must be postmarked by this date. Incomplete applications
will not be considered. A Miami HEAT representative will contact the potential recipients of the HEAT Scholarships prior to June 30, 2025 to confirm their acceptance of a scholarship. Scholarships will be awarded per eligibility criteria below and per all NBA rules and regulations. Scholarship awards will be applied towards the winners’ first year college tuition in the Fall of 2025.
ELIGIBILITY
To be considered for any of our five HEAT Scholarships, the student must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
- Applicant must be a high school student enrolled in a Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe or Palm Beach County public or private school.
- Applicant must have a minimum un-weighted GPA of 3.0 by the end of the first grading period of their senior year.
- Applicant must submit an official transcript from the high school registrar.
- Applicant must submit a copy of their SAT and/or ACT score.
- Applicant must have an unmet financial need for assistance as determined by their accepted university’s Financial Aid Office.
- Letters to be submitted by applicant:
- Two (2) letters of recommendation – each from a current high school teacher or administrator on school letterhead.
- Two (2) or more letters from a community based organization, on that specific organization’s letterhead verifying community service and hours performed.
- One (1) letter from High School Athletic Director or Coach on school letterhead verifying candidate’s participation in a high school sport. (Only applies to Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship applicants).
- Applicant must be accepted to and enroll in a four-year accredited college or university in the USA. Applicant must submit at least one letter of acceptance from the four-year accredited college or university they plan to attend (multiple if undecided on choice of college or university).
- Applicant must submit a writing sample as outlined in the application form.
- Children or grandchildren of current employees of the Miami HEAT are not eligible.
SELECTION CRITERIA
A panel comprised of Miami HEAT employees and Miami HEAT Charitable Fund Board Members will review/rate the eligible applications and make final decisions on scholarship awards based upon the criteria set forth below. The following criteria will be considered equally in evaluating applicants:
- Career Goals
- Writing Sample
- Financial Need
- Teacher/School official recommendations
- Academic Achievement
- Community Service Verification Letter(s)
- College/University Acceptance Letter
- Sport Participation Verification Letter (Only applies to Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship applicants)