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HONORING MUSKOGEE'S SILENT HEROES
Applications Now Open for 2026 Graduates!
THE CUNDIFF LEGACY
Every town has its fair share of silent heroes, the kind of people who never care about making a name for themselves, but instead pour their lives into loving and lifting up the people around them. For Muskogee, those heroes are Mike and Dana Cundiff.
For more than 25 years, the Cundiffs have shaped the hearts, character, and futures of hundreds of young women through the game of softball. They have given everything and somehow still given more to help girls discover who they are, who they can become, and what they’re capable of when they’re surrounded by people who believe in them. This scholarship exists to continue that legacy.
A COACHING LIFE THAT BECAME FAMILY
Mike and Dana began coaching in 1998 with their first team, the Golden Girls, a team that won only one game in their first season. But even then, the Cundiffs were hooked. They saw something in the sport that was bigger than wins and losses: Softball could change a young woman’s life.
They founded the Intimidators organization, which grew to six competitive teams, and over the decades, they invested in hundreds upon hundreds of players. Their goal was never trophies, but transformation. And that is why their legacy is built on three pillars:
PASSION
Dana often told her players, “I’m not okay with you being okay.” She expected grit, growth, and a refusal to settle. She knew that desire paired with discipline could take a girl anywhere she wanted to go.
FAMILY
Mike says it simply:
“Our players are family, always will be. Wouldn’t want it any other way.” Their players knew, and still know, that if they ever needed anything, even in their lowest moment, the Cundiffs would show up.
CONSISTENCY
Dana taught that success comes from effort and attitude. When a player knew where she wanted to go, the Cundiffs made one thing clear: “If you want to get there, I will get you there.” But only if the player showed up ready to work.
WHY THE WOOD FAMILY SPONSORS
The Wood Family has lived, worked, and invested in the Muskogee community for decades. Through landscaping, entrepreneurship, and now Wood Co. Outdoor Living, their family mission has always been the same: Support people. Build community. Create spaces that help others thrive.
When the Cundiffs retired from coaching due to Dana’s health, the Wood family knew the right way to respond was simple: Continue their life’s work by investing in young women the same way Mike and Dana always have. The Cundiff Legacy Softball Scholarship is the Wood family’s way of saying: We honor the ones who have given their lives to our community. We believe in the next generation of young women. And we will carry the Cundiff legacy forward for years to come.
THE SCHOLARSHIP
The Cundiff Legacy Softball Scholarship is a one-time award of $2,500 with the partnership of HTB Tournaments.
The scholarship is designed to recognize a young woman who embodies the three pillars that define the Cundiff legacy: PASSION. FAMILY. CONSISTENCY. It is given to a student athlete who shows commitment not only to the sport of softball, but to her teammates, her community, her academics, and her future.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
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Transcript - Upload your current high school transcript (minimum 3.0 GPA).
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Recommendation Letters - A written letter of recommendation from your high school softball or travel ball coach.
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Written Essay #1 - 400 words addressing all of the following: How softball has impacted your life. A time you demonstrated leadership on the field. How sports prepare student athletes for the future.
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Written Essay #2 - 200 words explaining how softball encourages the principles of Passion, Family, and Consistency as exemplified by Mike and Dana Cundiff.
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Video Submission - A personal video addressing: What the legacy of Mike and Dana means to you (even if you’ve never met them, use the description on this page). Why their story matters. A brief thank-you to Mike and Dana for the impact they’ve had on generations of young women, including opportunities like this scholarship.
HEART OF THE SCHOLARSHIP
Mike and Dana’s influence will not end with their final season. Every girl they coached carries their lessons into her home, her school, her friendships, her job, and eventually her own daughters. Their legacy is bigger than a team. It is bigger than a sport. It is a generation of young women learning to live lives marked by passion, anchored in family, and strengthened by consistency. This scholarship ensures that their impact continues, not just for hundreds, but for thousands.
APPLICATIONS DUE FEB. 15!
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