Student-athletes to be recognized April 12 at Indianapolis Colts Complex
The REPORTER
Fishers’ Grier Swaim is among this year’s group of 13 senior student-athletes who will be honored with the 2026 IHSAA/C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarships.
To reward the efforts of Indiana’s complete student-athletes, Forté Sports Medicine, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, Musco Lighting, Eventlink, and Sport Graphics, Inc., have all partnered with the IHSAA and the IHSAA Foundation to sponsor the program. These 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 Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Swaim ranks 13th in her class of 875 students, maintaining a 4.77 weighted grade-point average. She has participated in Basketball, Cross Country, and Track & Field for the Tigers and has earned Academic All-State recognition for her effort in the classroom.
Swaim is a member of Fishers’ Student Government and Student Athlete Leadership Team. She also has a leadership role in the Tiger Ambassadors Club, where she coordinates school tours for incoming eighth graders to help them get acclimated and creates service opportunities for students in the surrounding community through partnerships with local nonprofits.
Swaim also serves as Vice President of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee, a group of 18 students representing schools throughout the state. Through the SAC, she assists with IHSAA State Finals events throughout the year and serves as an ambassador to student-athletes across Indiana. Her volunteer work is rooted in faith-based leadership.
Most notably, she has volunteered countless hours with her church’s kids ministry, where she guides young children in learning how to read and understand the Bible, fosters healthy discussions about faith and responsibility, and organizes weekly lessons and activities. Grier will attend Purdue University in the Fall.
Each student completed and submitted a formal application and had to meet certain criteria to qualify including: 1) be enrolled and participating in interscholastic athletics at an IHSAA member school during this school year; 2) be a senior at an IHSAA member school who will graduate this school year; 3) win a varsity letter as an athlete in at least one of the 24 IHSAA-sanctioned athletic programs; 4) be nominated by the school’s principal or athletic director; 5) carry a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or the equivalent and; 6) have no violations of the school’s athletic code of conduct.
Over 100 completed applications were received from across the state, and a blue-ribbon panel of individuals decided upon the final recipients:
- Andy Arnold, Senior Vice President, Facilities Operations, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
- Bobby Cox, Commissioner Emeritus, Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc., and member of the IHSAA Foundation Board of Directors
- Phil Eskew, Jr., M.D., Emeritus Professor, OBGYN, IU School of Medicine and chair of the IHSAA Foundation Board of Directors
- Bob Gardner, Commissioner Emeritus, Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc., and Retired Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Associations
- Andy Matis, Senior Manager of Football Development, Indianapolis Colts
- Paul Neidig, Commissioner, Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.
Since 2003-04, the IHSAA has recognized 326 outstanding student-athletes with scholarships totaling $709,000.
Recognized alongside the recipients of this year’s Cato Scholarship and eight additional IHSAA Foundation scholarships at the IHSAA Foundation Impact Awards, Forté Sports Medicine Research and Education Foundation will honor Indiana high school student-athletes who have overcome injury or hardship with the Brady Comeback Award. Additionally, graduating members of the IHSAA’s Student Advisory Committee will be recognized for their contributions and work as a voice for today’s student-athletes. Recipients of these scholarships will be recognized in the near future.
The IHSAA Foundation Impact Awards serves to recognize the accomplishments of our next generation of leaders in competition, in the classroom, and within their communities. Those interested in celebrating these accomplishments at the banquet can find more information at the event’s webpage.
To learn more about the history of the Cato Scholarship and all IHSAA/IHSAA Foundation scholarship opportunities, visit ihsaa.org/foundation/scholarships.