The Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. has announced this year’s group of 13 senior student-athletes who will be honored with the 2024 IHSAA/C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarships.
Included in the group of 13 is Shelbyville senior Jacob Harker, a three-sport athlete that is ranked fourth in his graduating class of 228 with a 4.58 grade point average.
To reward the efforts of Indiana’s complete student-athletes, Forte Sports Medicine, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, Sport Graphics, Inc., and Franciscan Health Systems have all partnered with the IHSAA and the IHSAA Foundation to sponsor the program. The well-rounded, positive role models have demonstrated excellence in academics, school and community involvement, character, sportsmanship, and citizenship.
Each individual will receive a $2,500 scholarship for their prep accomplishments and be recognized at this year’s inaugural IHSAA Foundation Impact Awards at Gridiron Hall, within the Indianapolis Colts Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on May 7.
Harker was named Academic All-Conference three times and All-Conference once in football. As a wrestler, Harker won the team MVP award twice, was a two-time semistate qualifier, a conference champion, three times Academic All-Conference and All-Conference once.
Additionally, he has served as Team Captain for both football and wrestling programs. Academically, he has been on the Superior Honor Roll, nationally commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program, and named an AP scholar with distinction.
Harker is a member of Shelbyville’s National Honor Society, Student Athletic Advisory Council, and the Student Leadership Council. He also spends time participating in 4-H, volunteering at various community outreach events at his church, and working on his family’s farm. He will be attending Purdue University in the fall.
Other Cato Memorial Scholarship winners were:
- Mary Bellia, South Bend St. Joseph
- Mary Cox, Monrovia
- Ava Decker, Elkhart
- Ashton Elpers, North Posey
- Whitman Horton, Crawfordsville
- Ava Lehmkuhler, Lebanon
- Ethan Popp, Harrison (West Lafayette)
- Emma Schipp, Jasper
- Jack Steadham, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard
- Kyah Streeval, Edinburgh
- Jake Tippman, Fort Wayne Snider
- Erin Zhu, Culver Academies
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