SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A first of it's kind scholarshipis up for the taking for female high school seniors pursuing a college sports career.
Solana Beach athletics wear company, HYLETE, calls it their "GRACEDBYGRIT" scholarship.
"We all experience these gritty moments in our lives and those gritty moments are what define us, they give us our strength and it's what you do with those gritty moments that gives you your grace," Vice President of HYLETE Kate Nowlan said.
Nowlan played Softball and swam in high school. She said sports have a huge impact on young women, "they have a greater chance of success professionally but also their self confidence is higher."
A 2014 Ernst & Young and espnW study found 52% of female executives played sports in college.
"This is one small way we can contribute to someone's success," Nowlan said, referring to the $5,000 scholarship they're awarding for the first time.
High school seniors must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be pursuing college sports and have a story of overcoming adversity. The applicant must write an essay and complete a short video describing that trying moment and how it taught her grace.
Nowlan said her grit came when she was 20-years-old and became Maggi's mother, "she was often in my front pack while I finished my degree which was definitely a graceful way of doing it, but a really hard time in my life." She said she's thankful for the support system she had that helped her through it.
"We're hoping we can raise more awareness toward the foundation, raise more money, give out more scholarships," she said.
HYLETE gives 1% of all women's apparel sales to the GRACEDBYGRIT foundation scholarship fund.
Applications are due March 15th, the winner will be announced April 15th.
