Get Your Applications in for the 2024 Vaughn Bigelow Jr. Scholarship
Founded in 2019, the Vaughn Bigelow Jr. Scholarship aims to create a ripple of positivity in the lives of young water polo athletes in Colorado. Submit your application today, as the deadline is April 30th, 2024.
The History Behind the Scholarship
The Vaughn Bigelow Jr. Scholarship was established to honor the memory and legacy of Vaughn Bigelow Jr., aka Bubba, a passionate swimmer and water polo player who was lost to us during a road rage incident at the age of 14. To learn more about his story, click here.
Previous scholarship recipients have gone on to play water polo at the collegiate level while pursuing diverse academic interests, from marine science to forensic psychology.
Our Goal
The Vaughn Bigelow Jr. Scholarship aims to support graduating high school seniors in Colorado who play water polo and embody Vaughn's spirit of leadership, sportsmanship, and positivity.
The scholarship criteria emphasize athletic prowess, leadership, sportsmanship, and a commitment to mentoring younger players. According to the committee, "It is not necessary to be an MVP or star athlete" to be selected, but rather to be an 'all-around student and enthusiastic member of their water polo team."
The Ripple Effect
The effect of the Vaughn Bigelow Jr. Scholarship can be seen throughout the stories told by past recipients.
In 2023, Jack Klein, a highly decorated player who served as the Rocky Mountain Neptunes water polo team captain, was awarded the scholarship. The selection committee was impressed by Jack's love of history and dedication to mentoring younger players.
Similarly, the 2022 recipients Danny Hruby and Codi Ortiz continued their water polo careers at the collegiate level, with Danny playing for Penn State University and Codi joining the club team at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Our mission is to "spread a #rippleofpositivity" beyond the scholarship recipients and to the Colorado water polo community. We hope the scholarship inspires others to follow in their footsteps, creating a positive feedback loop that strengthens the water polo community.
Make Your Own Waves
Are you a 2024 graduating high school water polo player? Apply today! The deadline is April 30th, 2024.