Jaguars’ grant support advancing girls flag football in time for national Women in Sports Day
The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced that they will be offering the DREAM BIG Scholarship, through the Jaguars Foundation, to support high school female football athletes in their pursuit of higher education. The announcement coincides with the celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which takes place on February 7.
The Jaguars Foundation will award three $3,000 scholarships for the second year running. Applications are currently being accepted and will remain open until Wednesday, April 10. Recipients will be notified directly in April and will be recognized at the Jaguars NFL Draft Party at EverBank Stadium on Thursday, April 25.
Whitney Meyer, Jaguars Senior Vice President and Chief Community Impact Officer, spoke about the increasing popularity of girls’ flag football and the importance of supporting these athletes. She said, As the popularity of girls’ flag football gains steam in the state of Florida and throughout our country, ‘girl power’ is more than a tagline as these athletes are proving that they can ‘dream big’ to reach their goals. We are proud to once again provide opportunities for postsecondary education, continuing athleticism through collegiate play and potential future as professionals in the sports arena through the Jaguars DREAM BIG Scholarship.
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet certain criteria. The scholarships aim to alleviate financial burdens and provide greater ease for female athletes to focus on their studies and pursue their academic goals. Hadiya Bakhtari, a previous recipient of the DREAM BIG scholarship, expressed her gratitude for the support it provided during her college journey at the University of North Florida. She said, The girls’ flag scholarship played a pivotal role in supporting my college journey at the University of North Florida. It significantly alleviated the financial burden, allowing me to focus on my studies and pursue my academic goals with greater ease. I’m truly grateful for the invaluable assistance it provided. I am so happy that there is a scholarship like this for girls who play football because it provides a great opportunity while also recognizing the student athlete.
Girls flag football is part of the Jaguars PREP program, which aims to grow the game of football in Northeast Florida by removing barriers of accessibility, promoting health and safety, building character, and enhancing opportunities and resources for youth and high school football athletes. The Jaguars host several events for high school athletes, including girls flag football events.
Later this month, the Jaguars will host the Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, a tournament-style event with over 45 area high schools, on February 16-17. They will also hold the Girls Flag College Showcase on February 18, which will allow girls’ flag athletes to be seen by NAIA college coaches and scouts. Both events will take place at EverBank Stadium and Daily’s Place Flex Field.
The Jaguars’ commitment to advancing girls flag football and supporting female athletes reflects the growing recognition of the importance of women’s sports. National Girls and Women in Sports Day serves as a reminder of the achievements and potential of female athletes. With initiatives like the DREAM BIG Scholarship, the Jaguars are helping to empower and inspire the next generation of female football athletes.
