MONTGOMERY- The ASF Foundation, home of the Alabama State Games, has announced there will be 10 academic scholarships totaling as much as $15,000 awarded to registered athletes who attend the Athlete Leadership Summit and the Opening Ceremony June 11 at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan. The 38^th version of the Alabama State Games will be held June 11-13 and will be spread across the host cities of Dothan, Ozark and Enterprise in the counties of Houston, Dale and Coffee.

The ASF Foundation has awarded approximately $300,000 in academic scholarships over the history of the amateur games. This year, athletes who attend the Athlete Leadership Summit and are present at the Opening Ceremony will be eligible to receive $1,500 while those attending only the Opening Ceremony will be eligible to receive $1,000 scholarships. The winners of the scholarships will be drawn randomly at the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony.

“The scholarships are for any four-year, two-year or technical post-high school institution and are offered as a part of the commitment of the ASF Foundation and the Alabama State Games to emphasize not only sports, but good citizenship, leadership and , especially, academics,” said Dean Kelly, Vice President/Executive Director of the ASF Foundation/Alabama State Games. “These scholarships are meant to encourage our young people to continue their education past high school.”

The Alabama State Games involves athletes from every corner of the state, in addition to athletes from neighboring states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee and is the largest annual multi-sport event in Alabama. The games feature amateur competition in 28 different events. One of the elements for the huge success of the games that began in 1982 are the volunteers. These special people assist in the running of the huge event in every aspect of the three-day extravaganza. For those wishing to sign up to volunteer for this year’s sports competition can register at www.asffoundation.org/impact.

For those athletes looking to participate, you are encouraged to register at www.alagames.com.

The spectacular Olympic-style Opening Ceremony includes the Parade of Athletes, the lighting of the Cauldron and much more, all of which are favorite memory-making events for the athletes, coaches, families of the athletes and the hundreds of volunteers. At the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony the scholarships will be awarded with a spectacular fireworks display.