Volney Meece
By Alan Schmadtke
DALLAS--The Football Writers Association of America has opened the application window for
applicants interested in the 2026 Volney Meece Scholarship.
For more than 20 years, the FWAA has given out an annual $1,000, multi-year
scholarship to help defray the cost of higher education.
The scholarship committee accepts applications from:
-- FWAA members’ children who plan to enroll in college in 2026.
--FWAA members’ children who are already in college.
--Student FWAA members.
--Children of College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) who are entering
college or are already in college. The CSC member does not have to be a current
FWAA member but must be a current CSC member.
--Graduate students are also welcome to apply.
For someone to win the award in their senior year of high school, the scholarship is
worth up to $4,000. The scholarship application window will remain open until March 31, 2026. The
selection committee will vet applicants and announce the winner in April 2026.
The FWAA named the award for the late Volney Meece, the organization’s president in
1971 and later its executive director for 22 years. Meece was a beloved sportswriter and
columnist at the Oklahoma City Times and at The Oklahoman before retiring in 1991.
He died in 1995 at age 70.
For a link to an application, please email former FWAA President Alan Schmadtke at
schmad09@gmail.com.
Please note that part of the application process is gathering updated high school or
college transcripts, and that process can take several weeks, depending on the school’s
records policies.
In addition, the FWAA asks that the student applying for the scholarship complete the
application. We feel this shows an important level of inspiration and commitment
worthy of the scholarship.
The FWAA is a collection of journalists, broadcasters, publicists of college football and
key executives involved in all aspects of the sport. It was founded in 1941 and consists
largely of members across North America who cover college football for a living.
A 501-c-6 nonprofit organization, the FWAA works to help govern areas that include
game-day operations and postseason awards. In addition to the Volney Meece
Scholarship, the FWAA also sponsors an All-America team, an All-Freshman team, and
an annual writing contest. Through its website, the FWAA works to improve
communication among all those who work within the game. Membership in the FWAA
is open to accredited members of the media and other organizations affiliated with
college football. All applications are subject to the approval of the association's board of
directors. If you have a question regarding membership, please contact FWAA Executive
Director Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.