H.L.A. Foundation Awards
For the Student
Who Goes Unnoticed.
Harryson believed in the quiet ones. Two awards for the students who show up, work hard, and deserve their chance.
About the Awards
Average Grades.
Extraordinary Heart.
Harryson Lafayette Anderson maintained a GPA between 2.0 and 3.0. He was not a valedictorian. He was not aiming for the honor roll. He was just a young man who showed up every day, took care of his people, and believed his future was worth building.
These awards exist for students like him. Not the ones at the top of the class, but the ones in the middle, quietly doing the work, often overlooked by programs built only for the highest achievers.
Required of Every Applicant
- High school senior in the year of application
- No disciplinary record during the year of application
- A completed application submitted with official transcripts
- A 500-word essay: "The Impact of Gun Violence: Strategies for Fostering Peace and Safety in the Community."
- Selection of which award you are applying for, on the application below
$2,500
The Ascend Award
For one senior at Ascend Leadership Academy only, in honor of Harryson's life and his mother Nina's unwavering commitment to turning grief into purpose.
$750 each
The Tournament Award
A separate award, new this cycle. Two recipients are selected, one male and one female, from the seniors who participated in the HLA Tournament.
3
Students Awarded
Mar 15
Packet Deadline, 2027
2026
Inaugural Year
500
Word Essay
Two Ways to Qualify
Two Awards.
Side by Side.
These are two separate awards. They share the same essay, the same conduct standard, and the same deadlines. What changes is who is eligible, the GPA required, and how many students are selected.
Award One
The Ascend Award
Who Can Apply
A high school senior enrolled at Ascend Leadership Academy only
GPA Requirement
Between 2.0 and 3.0
Students Selected
One recipient each year
Conduct
No disciplinary record during the year of application
Documents
Completed application submitted with official transcripts
Essay
500 words: "The Impact of Gun Violence: Strategies for Fostering Peace and Safety in the Community."
Award Two · New
The Tournament Award
Who Can Apply
A high school senior who participated in the HLA Tournament
GPA Requirement
2.0 or better
Students Selected
Two recipients each year: one male, one female
Conduct
No disciplinary record during the year of application
Documents
Completed application submitted with official transcripts
Essay
500 words: "The Impact of Gun Violence: Strategies for Fostering Peace and Safety in the Community."
Highlighted rows are where the two awards differ. Everything else is the same.
Key Dates
The Application
Timeline.
The same schedule applies to both awards. Mark these dates, late packets cannot be considered.
Step 01
January 2027
Applications open for both awards.
Step 02
March 15, 2027
Complete packet due, including essay and official transcripts.
Step 03
April 15, 2027
Recipients are announced and notified directly.
Step 04
May 15, 2027
Scholarship funds are awarded to the recipients.
Sustain the Scholarship
More Scholars.
Every Single Year.
A one-time gift funds this year's awards. A recurring gift guarantees they are waiting next year, and the year after that, for the next students who just need someone to believe in them.
Give Monthly
As an individual, your recurring gift builds the fund behind both awards, so next year's deserving students never have to wonder if the award will still be there when they need it most.
Give MonthlyOrganization Giving
Local businesses can adopt an annual scholarship commitment. Structure a recurring corporate gift and put your company's name behind the students Harryson believed in most, at Ascend Leadership Academy, on the tournament court, and beyond.
Organization GivingStudent Spotlight
Recipient Recognition
Each year, three deserving students carry Harryson's name forward. Their stories will be shared here.
Coming Soon
The first recipients, one Ascend Leadership Academy senior and two HLA Tournament seniors, one male and one female, will be announced on April 15, 2027, following the close of the 2026-2027 application cycle.
$2,500
Ascend · 1 Student
$750
Tournament · 2 Students
Know a student who belongs here? Encourage them to apply below.
The Application
Apply for a
Scholarship.
One application covers both awards below. Let us know which one you're applying for, attach your official transcripts, and submit. Every application is reviewed with care. Every story matters.
Choose your award
The form asks which award you are applying for.
Attach transcripts
Official transcripts are required for both awards.
Submit by March 15, 2027
Packets received after the deadline cannot be considered.
Support The Mission
Your Gift Becomes
His Legacy.
Every contribution directly funds the Harryson L. Anderson Scholarship and fuels our fight against gun violence. Stand with us to bring hope to the unseen.
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H.L.A. Foundation is a registered Non-Profit Organization