Nominations Open!

Colorado wrestling coaches can nominate a qualified senior wrestler today to be a contender for the 2022 RBS&HF Scholarship. Photo by Nichole Chirico

One year after its Board of Directors began working on the Ray Barron Strength & Honor Fund (RBS&HF), nominations are officially open to apply for the inaugural $10,000 scholarship named for legendary Colorado wrestling coach Ray Barron. Qualified Colorado wrestling coaches can nominate a wrestler here.

“We’re incredibly excited to get the ball rolling to award our first scholarship in my dad’s name,” said RBS&HF President Jennifer Paulson. “Our board of directors has worked tirelessly to establish fair, inclusive criteria that will honor my dad’s commitment to the wrestling community.”

The RBS&HF scholarship will recognize one Colorado wrestler who shows strength and honor on and off the mat with a $10,000 scholarship to be used toward higher education of the recipient’s choice. Find complete criteria here. In recognition of the value Barron placed on the coach/wrestler relationship, the selection process begins with a coach nomination, and then each nominated wrestler will complete an application form detailing his or her ways of demonstrating strength and honor in their everyday life, in the wrestling room, and when in the public eye.

“To be able to award a substantial scholarship is very important to me and my family,” Paulson continued. “My family is humbled by and grateful for the overwhelming and unfathomable outpouring of support of this effort since my dad passed in October 2021. He’d be speechless and proud to know his commitment to the sport and legacy will help a wrestler continue their education, whether at a college or university, junior or community college, or established trade school.”

Coach nominations open Monday, August 2, 2021. Email the fund at RBStrengthAndHonorFund@gmail.com with any questions, and follow Ray Barron Strength & Honor Fund on Facebook to keep up with all of the fund’s work within the wrestling community and learn other ways you can support the effort.