Ghanaian gold-medal high jumper risks expulsion from US university over $15,000 unpaid fees

Evans Cadman Yamoah, a Ghanaian high jumper and gold medalist at the 2023 African Games, is on the verge of being unenrolled from the University of Central Missouri in the United States due to over $15,000 in unpaid tuition fees.

The athlete, who previously competed in the collegiate system in Ghana, is no longer eligible for an NCAA scholarship, having reached the program’s two-year eligibility limit.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Game Plan, Yamoah shared the challenges of his financial situation, describing it as an unexpected and difficult hurdle. “At this point, I’m sad, I’m stranded,” he said. “This is not what I would have expected for myself. I wanted more for myself and my country. However, circumstances have brought me this way.”

He appealed to the public for support, expressing a desire to continue his education and athletic pursuits. “I’m pleading with everyone who is able to come to my aid to pay for this tuition. I know once this is paid for, I will put in the work and all the energy to bring joy back to every Ghanaian. There are more games ahead, and more opportunities to tap into,” he added.

Yamoah gained national pride earlier this year by claiming gold at the African Games, where he cleared a height of 2.23m, outperforming Morocco’s Hammouda Saad and South Africa’s Benjamin Links Mpho.

Since 1964, the NCAA has supported athletes like Yamoah in their academic journeys, offering scholarships to over 350 student-athletes annually. But with his eligibility for the scholarship expired, Yamoah’s future at the University of Central Missouri now depends on securing alternative financial support.

Evans Yamoah was the 2023 National Runner-Up in the men’s high jump at the NCAA-II Outdoor Championships, and cleared a school record height of 2.21m (7-3.00). He finished third in the high jump at the MIAA Outdoor Championships and was second at the MIAA Indoor Championships. He was also the National Runner-Up in the high jump at the NCAA-II Indoor Championships, clearing 2.18m (7-1.75). 

Division II Degree Completion Award Program

The NCAA established the Division II Degree Completion Award Program in 2001 to provide deserving student-athletes financial assistance for them to complete their first undergraduate degree. Candidates will be students who have exhausted their athletics eligibility.

To date, nearly $9,000,000 has been given to approximately 1,875 deserving student-athletes. Of those student-athletes who have received the award since its inception, approximately 90 percent have earned their undergraduate degree using this program.  The approval rate for those who meet the requirements of the award and complete the application in its entirety has been extremely high in the past few years.  For the 2022-23 and 2023-24 awarding cycles, the committee approved 94 percent and 96 percent of the applications submitted, respectively. The 2024-25 awarding cycle experienced a higher number of applications, which resulted in an approval rate of 85.5 percent.

Requirements for the Award

1. Applicant shall be a student-athlete who has completed athletics eligibility at an active NCAA Division II institution.
2. Applicant must be within 40 semester hours (60 quarter hours) of completion of an undergraduate degree.  Please note that ONLY those credits for completion of a first baccalaureate degree should be counted. 
3. The degree must be completed within 10 semesters (15 quarters).
4. Applicant must be meeting the institution’s standard for good academic standing.
5. Applicant cannot concurrently receive any athletics aid from the institution.
6. Applicant must use the award to complete the first undergraduate degree requirements from the institution where the student-athlete exhausted his or her athletics eligibility.

In addition, the following criteria applies to the award:

1. The Division II Degree Completion Award value is the lesser of:
   • Tuition for his or her remaining credits toward completing an undergraduate degree; or
   • Up to $15,000.
2. The Division II Degree Completion Award may be used for the summer term and other short terms immediately preceding or following the final undergraduate term/year, provided it is within the student-athlete’s 10 semesters (15 quarters).
3. An institution is limited to nominating a maximum of three student-athletes for the Division II Degree Completion Award.
4. The committee will rank all applicants who have completed applications and will reach out to alternates as awarding dollars become available.

How to Apply

The following materials are required to complete the application process.

1. Nomination can be initiated by the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), Athletics Director (AD), Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) or other designee.
2. The nominee must include a personal statement containing specific information requested by the selection committee (e.g., list of extracurricular activities, leadership roles, membership in professional organizations).
3. Academic information must be submitted from an advisor or department chair responsible for the applicant’s academic program.
4. Financial aid information must be submitted from the financial aid office.
5. Endorsement(s) should be included from the director of athletics, senior woman administrator, faculty athletics representative or coach at the Division II institution.
6. A transcript from the institution where the student-athlete exhausted his or her athletics eligibility must be included. Applications must also include transcripts from all institutions the student-athlete previously attended. Transcripts can be scanned and uploaded to the system as a .pdf document.
7. A faculty member who knows the student personally and is from within the applicant’s major will be asked to submit an endorsement statement on the student’s behalf.  This endorsement statement, which is contained within the Academic Form in the application, should follow specific guidelines (as described on the form) and be included along with the application by the deadline. 

The application will be available on Program Hub beginning October 15, 2024, for the 2025-26 academic year awards. The application deadline is February 17, 2025.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed by a special committee composed of the representatives from six Division II institutions. The selection committee is comprised of:

Two representatives from the Division II Academic Requirements Committee; one NCAA Division II Management Council representative; one Division II director of athletics appointed by the Division II Athletic Directors’ Association; and two Division II faculty athletics representatives appointed by the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association.