Abe Olman, for whom the scholarship program is named, was both a major figure in the music publishing community and a songwriter himself, in addition to being one of the founders of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Abe Olman Scholarship Award is given out each year, and is made possible by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters. Recipients of the award are selected by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.