The Alice & Charles Taylor Scholar-Athlete LEAD Scholarship has awarded $17,000 to 14 high school student athletes from across Idaho, recognizing recipients who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, athletic excellence, and community service. The awards went to representatives of 12 Idaho high schools selected from a competitive pool of 72 applicants.
Recognizing Four Pillars of Character
The scholarship program, established in 2015 by Greg, Gary, and Angela Taylor to honor their parents Charles and Alice Taylor, selects recipients based on a rigorous evaluation of four core values. A committee composed of teachers, principals, counselors, coaches, and regional leaders reviewed applications and made selections based on how well candidates embodied the LEAD framework: leadership, educational excellence, athletic achievement, and distinguished community service.
Gary Taylor, one of the scholarship founders, praised this year’s class of honorees. “This year’s class of Taylor Scholars is an extraordinary group of young leaders,” Taylor said. “They are thoughtful, service-minded and deeply aligned with the LEAD values.”
Diverse Paths to Higher Education
Nine female recipients and five male recipients were selected to receive the awards. The 14 scholarship winners are attending colleges and universities both within Idaho and across the nation. Recipients will pursue their studies at institutions ranging from Brigham Young University of Idaho and the University of Idaho to out-of-state schools including Ohio State University, Wheaton College, George Fox University, Oregon State University, and the University of California system.
Among the recipients is Paisley Prow of Rimrock Jr./Sr. High School, who will attend Boise State University. Three recipients of this year’s cohort received a combined $6,000 in additional scholarship funds, recognizing their exceptional alignment with the program’s core values.
Impact on Idaho Communities
The Taylor LEAD Foundation’s annual awards program represents a sustained investment in Idaho’s youth across rural and urban communities. Recipients hail from high schools spanning the state—from Burley and Council to Boise, Mountain Home, and Nampa—reflecting the foundation’s commitment to supporting student leaders throughout Idaho.
For Claire Matthews of Weiser High School, who will attend George Fox University, earning the scholarship carried particular meaning. “Earning this scholarship means that I showed the LEAD values and portrayed the characteristics Alice and Charles Taylor embodied, which is something that I’m incredibly proud of,” Matthews said.
What Comes Next
The Taylor LEAD Foundation continues to accept applications annually from Idaho high school student athletes who wish to be considered for future scholarships. Interested students and their schools can learn more about application requirements and deadlines through their high school counseling offices or by contacting the foundation directly. The program remains open to applicants from across Idaho who embody the scholarship’s foundational commitment to leadership, academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community service.