USSA To Honor Thorpe With Scholarships, Special Course, Exhibit

The United States Sports Academy (USSA) has received permission from the family of Jim Thorpe to offer scholarships, an educational course and a memorabilia room in the name of the multisport athlete who, among other achievements, was first Native American to win a gold medal for the U.S. in the Olympics. In addition, USSA has submitted an application to receive designation as an official Olympic Studies Center as recognized by the International Olympic Committee. If approved, USSA will name its Olympic Studies Center, which it says is the only one of its kind in the U.S., after Thorpe. It says it will offer full scholarships in Thorpe’s name to the winners of its annual Scholar Athlete of the Year program in spring 2024. For the second consecutive academic year, USSA is working with WKRG News 5 on a yearlong campaign to recognize local high school student athletes for their achievements on the field and in the classroom and community. Student athletes from high schools in Mobile and Baldwin counties and West Florida have been recognized with the weekly awards. The weekly winners will now become eligible for the male and female Scholar Athlete of the Year award and the Jim Thorpe scholarship for one male and one female student athlete to attend USSA. In addition, the academy will immediately begin development of an academic course that will teach its students about Thorpe’s life and legacy. It will also begin development of a special exhibit with memorabilia and art dedicated to Thorpe’s memory at the American Sport Art Museum & Archives on its campus.