Axe ’Em, Jacks!
$500 per semester, with a maximum of two semesters
The Dr. Raymond Lee Worsham Scholarship was established in 2011 to benefit a Campus Recreation student employee with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Student employees apply for the scholarship through SFA's general scholarship application before Feb. 1. The chosen recipient is announced during Campus Rec's employee banquet at the end of the spring semester, with scholarship funds beginning disbursement in the fall.
What criteria will be considered for awarding the scholarship?
The Campus Recreation Scholarship Committee uses the following criteria on eligible applications to select the annual recipient:
- Compelling, thoughtful, genuine and thorough essay response
- Expected graduation date
- Level of dedication to the department
- Level of dedication to SFA
- Willingness to serve on a departmental committee
Questions? Contact Ken Morton, director, at 936.468.1401 or mortonkw@sfasu.edu.
A legacy in SFA recreation:
Dr. Raymond Lee Worsham
Information primarily obtained from an article published in November 2010 by Kati Van Dunk, former Campus Recreation promotions graduate assistant
For 40 years, Dr. Raymond Lee Worsham was a driving force behind the evolution of intramural sports at SFA. As Intramural Sports director from 1966 to 2006, his vision and dedication laid the foundation for intramural leagues, clubs and traditions that continue to bring students together.
A native of Berry, Texas, Worsham attended SFA in the early 1960s and began working as a student assistant for Intramural Sports in 1961. Worsham earned bachelor’s degrees in kinesiology and biology in 1963 then master’s degrees in education and biology the next year. In 1966, Worsham was hired as SFA’s Intramural Sports director and taught in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science.
During his tenure leading Intramural Sports, Worsham and staff members established lasting traditions and expanded the program significantly. Under his leadership, the department grew from six intramural sports and two sport clubs to 30 intramural events and 19 sport clubs, while also incorporating aquatics, fitness, wellness and Outdoor Pursuits programs.
Later in his tenure, new clubs — including rugby, bass fishing, badminton, baseball, and wrestling — were formed. Additionally, new intramural sports were introduced, such as washers, horseshoes, archery and three-man basketball.
Worsham also played a key role in securing permanent locations for various intramural sports. He successfully persuaded Dr. William R. Johnson, the university’s fourth president, to repurpose a cow pasture and creek bed into a designated intramural space. The university agreed, leading to the development of the Intramural Fields.
Worsham retired from Intramural Sports in 2006 and became the namesake of the Dr. Raymond Lee Worsham Scholarship in 2011. The scholarship awards $1,000 annually to a Campus Recreation student employee who upholds the values of the department and their work.
For Worsham, helping students reach their full potential was a lifelong passion. His dedication extended far beyond the classroom and intramural fields, shaping the lives of countless young people. That same commitment was reflected in his own home, where he and his wife lovingly raised eight adopted children. The scholarship in his name stands as a testament to his unwavering belief in mentorship, hard work and dedication.
“I know I’ve helped a few down through the ages,” Worsham said in a November 2010 article. “I could point out where I think some people have been successful with a little pushing from me.”