Scholarship Application

Scholarship/Grant Assistance Program 

The Aspen Swim Club Scholarship/Grant Assistance Program is available to athlete members of USA Swimming who are in good standing with the club. The intent of this program is to provide financial aid to those swimmers who consistently demonstrate a sincere commitment to maximizing their swimming potential. Funds are awarded by the Aspen Swim Club Board of Directors on a first-come/first-served basis and by the sole decision of the Board.

 

Types of Assistance Available

• Team Dues

• A travel fund will be established to assist swimmers with expenses for team out of state travel meets. Funds from this account (when available) may also be applied for to cover expenses for any qualified individual’s out of state meet. The Aspen Swim Club Board of Directors will determine how the funds in this travel account will be disbursed.

 

Eligibility

Application for funds should be made by the swimmer or parent to the Aspen Swim Club Board of Directors. The Board will use the following criteria in awarding Funds:

  • Financial need

  • Swimmer must fully participate in team practices, mandatory swim meets, other events and activities. 

  • Parents must complete a generous share of volunteer work at home and away swim meets. Expectation is that all sessions at home meets will be worked.  In addition, recipients shall be expected to assist at any other event the team participates in (i.e. triathlon).  Scholarship recipients (parents/guardians) are required to report volunteer hours worked before any additional funds will be considered.

  • Families must meet all fundraising and sponsorship requirements.  Fundraising funds will be used to replenish the scholarship fund. 

  • Sincere interest in and commitment to competitive swimming 

  • Coach recommendation. 
    All applications shall be reviewed before the start of the swimming season that the application was submitted for. When a decision has been made, a notification will be sent to all applicants via telephone, mail and/or email.

  • Attendance and Participation at Practice. Scholarship/Grant recipients are expected to regularly participate in weekly practice sessions. Repeated weekly attendance of less than the required number of practices will result in the loss of scholarship.  Inactive periods for longer than 1 week without prior approval of the coach will result in loss of scholarship. If scholarship funds are revoked, dues are fully payable and any revoked awards will be returned to the general fund for redistribution to other committed scholarship/grant applicants.

 

Application Process

Scholarships/Grants are applied for, for each separate swimming season. The application must be submitted to the Board of Directors at least 15 days after the start of the season that the Scholarship/Grant is to be used, or before the travel meet to be attended. The Scholarship/Grants are limited to the availability of funds, and are awarded on a first come, first served basis. A renewal application must be completed for each swimmer, each season. Each family must submit the following to the Board of Directors:

1. Letter to BOD: Stating how much financial assistance is required (as a % of dues or a dollar amount), how the parent(s) have contributed to the team in the past and how much and in what fashion the parents plan to volunteer for the team during the current year, and acknowledgement of the practice attendance policy determined by each swimmer's coach.

2. Swimmer Essay: Each swimmer must complete an essay regarding what being on the swim team means to them, how they will be committed to practice, what they hope to get out of being on the team, and any other comments the swimmer feels important to their desire to swim on the swim team.

 

Misconduct.
Misconduct, as defined by the Swimmer Club Code of Conduct OR the Parent Code of Conduct, is grounds for loss of scholarship. 

 

Other.
A swimmer may reapply for Scholarship assistance as long as the criteria outlined above are met.