HARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

Rick Novack High School Scholarship – Closed

Who was Rick Novack?

Rick Novack was a long-time educator in the High Desert starting in the late 1960s.ย  In 1984 Rick became the Vice Principal at the newly opened Hesperia High School.ย  He helped organize student government, student activities, and student body funding.

Heย served on the Hesperia Recreation and Park District’s Board of Directors for more than a decade.ย  He also founded a group called “We Really Care” that is dedicated to helping local students in needย and was a co-founder of the Hesperia Youth Football Program.

Rick Novack was dedicated to helping students who may not have had the best grades,ย pushing them to reach their potential, and personal growth.

The Hesperia Area Recreation District Foundation is awarding $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors. This year, seven scholarships will be awarded as follows:

Large Schools – 3 Scholarships

Hesperia High School
Sultana High School
Oak Hills High School

Medium Schools- 2 Scholarships

Canyon Ridge High School
Mojave High School

Small Schools- 2 Scholarships

Hesperia Christian School
Shadow Ridge School
Summit Leadership Academy

Procedure:

  1. Each applicant must complete his/her own electronic application.
  2. Submit current student transcripts to djohnsen@hesperiaparks.com.
  3. The deadline to submit applications and transcripts was Thursday, February 12, 2026, by 4:00 p.m.
  4. The HARD Foundation Board Members will review all qualified applications submitted and select the finalists from each school.
  5. Finalists may be asked to participate in a 15-minute interview with the HARD Foundation Scholarship Committee.

Qualifications and Requirements:

  1. Graduating senior from one of the aforementioned high schools.
  2. Minimum grade point average of 2.0 and above.
  3. Student who has shown personal growth and improvement.
  4. Submit the electronic application and transcripts by the deadline stated above. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
  5. Students with an interest in majoring in Recreation, Education, Sports, or Related Studies are highly desired.

For more information, contact DanYell Johnson at djohnsen@hesperiaparks.com or call 760-244-5488, ext. 125.