athleticism & character
intellect
education

help encourage the teachers,
coaches and mentors
so important to the next generation

academics
team athletics
teaching and coaching

Waddell Scholars

Northern Kentucky Fund
Greater Cincinnati
Foundation


The endowment fund is managed by The Northern Kentucky Fund of the Greater
Cincinnati Foundation, a well-respected local community foundation

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The Judge Waddell Endowed Scholarship Fund

Highlands students are eligible for the scholarship and we encourage you to apply.

Scholarship awards are determined by an Advisory Committee made up of people who know and love the Highlands tradition. They select “student-athletes” who have demonstrated athleticism, character and intellect, and intend to pursue a career in education.

Apply Today

Deadline: March 24th 2025

Homer Rice passing

Homer Rice, principal founder of the Scholarship, died on June 10, 2024. Coach Rice was coached at Highlands High School by Judge Waddell, and was later hired by Judge to succeed him as head football coach at Highlands. Coach Rice was a decorated high school and collegiate player who went on to coach at the high school, college and professional levels. He finished his career as Athletic Director at Georgia Tech, where he is honored with, among other things, buildings bearing his name and a statue alongside John Heisman and Bobby Dodd outside the Georgia Tech stadium. He was the author of several books, and created the “Total Person” concept that is the basis for sports leadership programs in dozens of colleges and universities today.

Read more in the news

Donations

We hope you will help us in this effort. Your gift will help remember a great man, help perpetuate the intellectual and athletic values we all believe in, help young people improve and complete themselves, and help supply the teachers, coaches and mentors that future generations of young people will need. We think that’s a great investment.

Donate Now

Scholarship

Scholarship recipients will be “student-athletes” who have demonstrated athleticism, character and intellect, and intend to pursue a career in education. Recipients will be chosen by an Advisory Committee made up of people who know and love the Highlands tradition.

Read a letter from Dr. Homer Rice to learn more

Recent Waddell Scholars

Ellen
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2025: Ellen Mohr

Ellie is described as ‘embodies what every coach wants in a player… her spirit, attitude, and leadership abilities made her a standout, a great teammate… I can think of no better person to teach or coach… she will have a significant impact and influence on the young lives she encounters in her career.’ Ellie is ‘always positive, excited, and optimistic… an ambitious self-starter with a wonderful sense of humor that perfectly balances her intellect, humility, and strong will to achieve… her dynamic and charismatic personality is contagious… loves to learn, loves to share, loves to support others, and never loses herself along the way.’

Alyssa
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2023: Alyssa Nicole Harris

Alyssa is described as ‘a leader, compassionate, positive mindset, inclusive, role model, hard worker, devoted player, always willing to help’. Alyssa ‘pushes her teammates to be the best, but also knows the right words of encouragement… will be an outstanding teacher and coach one day… her future students and players will love her’ and ‘ is one of the most admirable students I’ve ever encountered… is the epitome of a young lady and a role model… consistently goes above and beyond… her compassion and empathy are visible in the community.’

Abraham
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2022: Abraham Martin Hils

Abe is described as ‘a truly special young man… a fantastic student who shows an incredible desire to learn… the type of student who can change the dynamic of a school… he speaks to everyone when he enters a room and thanks his teacher as he leaves… has an uplifting effect on the morale inside our classrooms’ and ‘genuinely cares about those around him… his effort and energy were infectious… completes his work with excellence… a young man of the utmost integrity, character, and humility’.

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