Bethel University once again has four-year scholarship offers for both anglers on the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals Championship Team!
Ponca City, Okla. (June 14, 2011) – The Bass Federation announced today the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals will return to Russellville, Ark., on Lake Dardanelle, July 20-23, 2011. Bethel University will once again offer four-year scholarships to both anglers on the High School Fishing World Finals championship team. Last year’s inaugural event saw anglers from 17 U.S. States and this year the field is expected to grow substantially. TBF’s Student Angler Federation (SAF) and the rapidly expanding High School Fishing State Championships, which TBF and FLW Outdoors are holding in every state in 2011, are supporting this pinnacle event. All SAF affiliated high school fishing club teams are eligible to register. Tournament waters go off-limits for pre-practice to all competitors at 11:59pm Sunday night July 10 until the first official practice day Sunday, July 17. There’s plenty of time to sign up a new high school club or team; any team can sign up online without a late fee at highschoolfishing.org until online registration closes July 17. Thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes are up for grabs, all with NO entry fee! Teams can sign up after that on site at the event with a $25.00 per angler late fee but advance registration is highly encouraged. Official rules and full details can be found at highschoolfishing.org
Russellville, Arkansas Tourism, Dardanelle State Park, and Arkansas Fish and Game rolled out the red carpet last year 
and have been preparing for this year’s event ever since. “Russellville is proud to be the host sponsor of the TBF High School Fishing World Finals for the second year,” Director of Tourism for Russellville, Christie Graham, stated.
Bethel University, in McKenzie, Tenn., near the shores of the famous Kentucky Barkley Lake stepped forward in a huge way. They’re offering a $4,000/year scholarship, renewable all four years to BOTH world championship team anglers for the second year! That’s a $32,000 package just to start! These anglers would get a top level education, as well as, spots on the Bethel University Collegiate Bass Fishing Team. In addition, the HSFWF Champions will earn spots in the 2012 BoatUS/ACA Collegiate National Championship to compete against college fishing’s elite with use of a custom wrapped Ranger boat all week.
The High School Fishing World Finals is one of the most unique fishing tournaments in the country. It combines not only tournament fishing but also fishing education as each angler is required to pass a written test on angler ethics, boater safety and invasive species. The results add bonus ounces, which can impact the final outcome.
“Last year’s inaugural event was awesome, beyond our expectations,” TBF President, Robert Cartlidge, said. “Our team is excited and prepared to handle as many teams that wish to come to Russellville. We also have a new and exciting wrinkle to this year’s event as we’ll host a consolation tournament for those who don’t make the top 7; another unique first unlike anything the industry’s ever seen. Our sponsors have stepped forward offering all kinds of prizes and contests for all the teams. Combine that with TBF’s education-oriented prize packages to get a trip certainly worthwhile for the entire family the week of July 18-23 in Russellville, Arkansas.”
The 2010 champions from Meade County High School in Kentucky walked away with $32,000 in college scholarship offers PLUS prizes. This year’s event will have even more of the same funding and bigger prizes while echoing SAF’s theory of promoting educating through fishing. TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, stated, “If you think last year was great, show up and see what we have in store this year; we’re rolling out even more opportunities for our high school anglers with more announcements soon to come. We’ll also be streaming the live weigh-ins to the world from Dardanelle State Park. Just another reason high school anglers everywhere should find a partner and a boat captain and go online to sign up now at highschoolfishing.org. Come and compete in Russellville, Ark.; it’s a low-cost, fun family vacation you’ll never forget and you could earn the college education of a lifetime!”
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization in America and the new home to the Future Fisherman’s Foundation (F3). TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year, and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years.
For more information about Student Anglers Federation, (SAF) or The Bass Federation, (TBF) visit highschoolfishing.org, or bassfederation.com or call 580.765.9031
For more information on the Future Fisherman Foundation, (F3) visit futurefisherman.org or call 330.993.0014
