The NCAA in December of 2005 approved the following Scholar-Baller™ pilot institutions, while the movement of Scholar-Baller™ participants continued to grow.

                        Illinois State University 

Southeast Missouri State University

University of Washington

Entertainment, the 3rd Pillar of Scholar-Baller®

In the triumvirate of the Scholar Baller concept (Education, Sport, Entertainment) – each pillar is equally significant and important.  The minds and the energy of the American citizen and more specifically, the American youth – regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic level or gender, are captured by “entertainment”.  Whether it is the “bobbing” of heads to a hip-hop beat, the spending of $10.00 to gain entry to the movie theatre, the line of desperate parents standing in the snow or rain outside of Wal-Mart to purchase the Wii, we are consumers of “entertainment”.  Scholar Baller fuses this thirst to be entertained with our passion for sport and our need for education, under one effort – a movement to motivate and inspire young people to achieve ultimate success.

Scholar-Ballers From Two COA/CCCAA Teams Recognized at Halftime of Their Football Game

On September 22, 2007, Saddleback College played El Camino College in a key COA football game.  Before the game started, athletes from each team with a 3.0 gpa or better were recognized and awarded Scholar-Baller patches for their jersey.  At half time, and in their home stadium, El Camino further recognized the remainder of its Scholar-Baller athletes from the other sports with an on-field ceremony.   Click here for pictures of the event.

Scholar-Baller™ at the 2007 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Conference

The Scholar-Baller team exhibited at the 2007 AFCA conference in San Antonio, Texas, from January 7th through January 9th.  Co-founders Dr. C. Keith Harrison and Jean Boyd presented at a well-attended breakout session. The title of their presentation was “Scholar-Baller™: Making "School Cool" with Players and Coaches in College and High School Football”.

New Article In the NCAA Times

In December 21, 2006 NCAA Times, Dr. C. Keith Harrison and his efforts with Scholar-Baller are highlighted in an articled entitled "Former Student-Athlete Teaches Importance of Academics".  Click here for a copy of the article.

A Movement is Born

Scholar-Baller™ is a conceptualization that promotes a willingness for students to accept the challenge of harmonizing academics and athletics.  The term Scholar-Baller stresses the importance of a lifelong commitment to learning.  A Scholar-Baller is someone who succeeds academically and who accepts the challenge of balancing playbook with textbooks.
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"Cutting Edge Program"

"Scholar-Baller is perhaps the most cutting edge program to help young athletes from the hip-hop generation become citizen-scholar-athletes.  Scholar-Baller incentives young men and women to understand that being a good student is not only cool but essential for life.  All schools should be adopting this program." Dr. Richard Lapchick, Chair of the DeVos Sports Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida and Director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport.  Click here to link to DeVos Center's Web Site.

"Well-Conceived Successful Way"

"The Scholar-Baller program, developed by Dr. Keith Harrison, is a well-conceived successful way to recognize and reward academic achievement by student-athletes. It speaks to the contemporary student-athletes in their language and in their context."   Dr. Myles Brand, NCAA President, July 2006

"The Scholar Baller Program is a creative and unique approach to providing academic support for student-athletes. The program resonates with student-athletes because it addresses the challenges of balancing participation in a sport and academic achievement in a contemporary fashion".  Dr. Bernard Franklin, NCAA Senior Vice-President for Governance and Membership

The Six Scholar-Baller™ Ideals

A Scholar-Baller exudes the following qualities:  self-respect, industry, perseverance, vision, humility and success.  Paul Robeson and Ralph Bunch defined the true meaning of Scholar-Baller with their commitment to education and sport, tenacity to never give up when faced with social obstacles, and intellectual development of the mind and body.

The Scholar-Baller™ Team

The Scholar-Baller team is a collection of students and student-athletes from the past, present and future.  We are a culture of people that value education, the culture of our time, and sport as one lifestyle.  With these beliefs, we plan to influence all of society with our concept and vision. Click here to meet the team!

The Scholar-Baller™ Patch

The Scholar-Baller™ Patch is a visible indicator of a student-athlete's achievement in both the classroom (a minimum 3.0 gpa) and on the playing fields, a badge of honor and a statement of the acceptance of the Scholar-Baller ideas.
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