Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Tournament scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors in good standing with their respective programs who have demonstrated commitment, excellence, and active participation in the Tournament community. Below are the requirements to be considered for a scholarship award:

  • Graduating Senior
 - The applicant must be a high school senior at the time of application.

  • Active Participation - The student must be a current member in good standing of an active TOB or TIA ensemble during the corresponding competitive season.
  • Season-Specific Application - Students may only apply during the season in which they are actively participating:

    – For TOB, the application must be submitted during the fall marching band season.

    – For TIA, the application must be submitted during the winter indoor season.
 (Example: If a student participates in TOB but does not apply during that season, they cannot apply for a TIA scholarship unless they are also performing in an eligible TIA unit.)

  • How to Apply
Students must request a scholarship application form from their unit director, who will provide the most current version available for the season.
  • Application Timing & Deadlines
 Applications are made available in advance of each season.
    – TOB Deadline: October 1

    – TIA Deadline: March 1
 Completed applications must be submitted before the appropriate deadline.

  • Selection Process
 Applications are reviewed by members of the National Judges Association (NJA). Award recipients are selected based on merit and alignment with Tournament’s mission and values.

  • Wildemore Scholarship
 The highest-rated students in each TOB class or TIA genre (guard, dance, twirl, winds, jazz, percussion) are eligible for the prestigious Wildemore Scholarship, which is awarded following a vote by the Tournament Executive Board.

  • Award Presentation
 Scholarship recipients are announced at the TOB and TIA Atlantic Coast Championships. Attendance is encouraged but not required to receive the award.

  • Disbursement of Funds
 Scholarship funds are sent directly to the student’s college or university.
 To claim an award, recipients must submit:

  • Proof of acceptance

  • Student ID number
  • Mailing address of the college/university
 Recipients have up to two years to claim their award.
    • 


Who Is My Unit Director?

Your unit director is the individual responsible for leading your performing ensemble. This may be your:

  • Band Director (for marching bands or jazz ensembles)

  • Color Guard, Dance, or Twirl Coach
  • Percussion or Winds Instructor

  • Or any other adult leader who oversees your TOB or TIA unit


Unit directors are registered with Tournament and receive official program materials, including the scholarship application forms. If you are unsure who your director is, ask the adult who manages your rehearsals or communicates with Tournament on your group’s behalf.

All scholarship application requests must go through your unit director.