East Brunswick, NJ (March 19, 2020) – The EDP Foundation is happy to announce it will be building upon its mission to give back to the soccer community, by awarding up to six $2,500 scholarships to eligible players in 2020. Under the EDP Foundation Scholarship Program, which began last year, the EDP Foundation will award scholarships to qualified student soccer players who will be graduating high school and aspiring to continue their education at a college, university, or trade school. Applications are now open and the EDP Foundation Scholarship Committee will select those candidates who – via a written application -- demonstrate a commitment and respect to the game, their teammates, coaches, referees, and opponents. Applicant eligibility requirements include:
Individuals who have played soccer either recreationally or competitively.
Are graduating from an accredited high school during the current scholarship year AND seeking to continue their education at an accredited university, college, technical school, or trade school.
Awards are based on the applicant’s character and sportsmanship, not their level of soccer ability.
Applicants must submit the following materials:
A Soccer Resume which should include their name, address, contact information (email/phone), soccer experience, and extra-curricular activities such as volunteer work, other sports involvement, or employment
A Soccer Essay in which applicants must respond in essay form to this question: How has your involvement in soccer shaped your character, and positively impacted your life outside of soccer? (Max. 500 words)
A least one (1) letter of recommendation from a current or former soccer coach
The EDP Foundation strives to positively impact and enhance the development of the youth soccer community by connecting players with opportunities to further their academic careers. These scholarship opportunities are intended to support bright, passionate, and ambitious students who are seeking to improve the world in their own way. “Our aim is to enable young soccer players to reach their full potential on and off the field, with an emphasis on college or educational opportunities by providing a full range of the highest quality soccer-related experiences. We aim to empower each player by creating connections that help them to achieve their collegiate goals.” states, Peter Gooding, Chairman of the EDP Foundation. The application deadline is Thursday, April 30, 2020, and the winners will be announced in June 2020. For more information about the scholarship program, visit: edpfoundation.org/scholarships. Here is what 2019 recipient winners had to say about their EDP Scholarships: “By participating in soccer I learned what determination, commitment, and hard work can accomplish. This scholarship from the EDP Foundation allowed me to continue to develop as a person, player and as a member of my community. My goal is to show children with Dyslexia and ADHD that you can succeed if you put aside your differences and persevere through any challenges. Thank you, EDP and the EDP Foundation for all the opportunities to play the sport I love, in a highly competitive manner and thank you for the scholarship to continue on my journey,” said Kathleen Rivera, a former player at FC BUCKS ECNL 2001 that is currently attending Old Dominion University. “EDP has been a great league to be a part of throughout my years of club soccer, and being a part of this scholarship program exemplifies the important aspects and opportunities EDP and the EDP Foundation can provide you with,” said Gabe Dunn, a former player at Salisbury United Soccer Club U19 that is currently attending Salisbury University. To see more from 2019 recipients, follow this link: edpfoundation.org/scholarships-2019-recipients The EDP Foundation, which enters into its fourth year, has four basic aims:
Academic Scholarships—Awarding funding for players to further their education.
College Campus Experiences—Playing EDP League games on college campuses and providing funding for players to access college opportunities.
College Soccer Opportunities—Sponsoring and funding college combines and hosting activities at showcase tournaments.
College Education—Providing informal, open and interactive forums where EDP Club parents and student-athletes are encouraged to discuss the college recruitment, application, and admissions process.
The EDP Foundation's mission is to enable young players to reach their full potential on and off the field, with an emphasis on college or educational opportunities providing a full range of high-quality, soccer-related experiences.
EDP Soccer’s continued efforts to support youth players is based on the concept of soccer as a ‘Pathway to College.’ EDP understands the majority of youth soccer players will pursue some form of higher education, while only a small percentage of the best players will have an opportunity to play in college. Therefore, EDP Soccer wants to demonstrate its commitment to collegiate soccer by providing assistance to players in achieving their academic objectives.
Further information regarding the EDP Foundation and how its programs help student-athletes prepare to advance their education can be found at edpfoundation.org.