Tier 1 · 90% off dues
Household income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level — the same line as free school lunch eligibility.
Give back: 15 service hours
Scholarship
The Louisa Joy Cornish Scholarship
Louisa was more than a teammate — she was a cherished member of our water polo family, and her joyful spirit is still part of this club. Her scholarship offers financial assistance to Bend Waves athletes who need it.
Any player who wants to play should be able to — regardless of the ability to pay.
This page explains how the scholarship works: who it helps, what to send, how private it stays, and the commitment that comes with it.
How it works
Help with dues, in four tiers
The fund covers part of a family's season dues. How much depends on household income, measured against the federal poverty level for your household size. Every award is capped at 90%, so each family keeps a small share of the cost.
Tier 2 · 65% off dues
Household income between 130% and 185% of the poverty level — the reduced-price school lunch range.
Give back: 10 service hours
Tier 3 · 40% off dues
Household income between 185% and 300% of the poverty level, aligned with Oregon's Expanded Income Guidelines.
Give back: 5 service hours
Tier 4 · 40% off dues
Letter-only. For families who can't provide standard financial documents — a personal statement of hardship takes their place.
Give back: 5 service hours
Enrolled in SNAP, TANF or Foster Care? You qualify for Tier 1 automatically — a current benefits letter is all the proof we need. On the Oregon Health Plan? The income shown on your benefits letter sets your tier.
What you'll need
One document, one short letter
A standard application is the club's short form, one proof of income, and a brief personal statement. That's all.
Your tax return
Page 1 only of your most recent federal tax return (Form 1040) — it shows your adjusted gross income and dependents. Black out every Social Security number before you send it.
Or an agency letter
Instead of a tax return, an official letter dated within the last 12 months confirming enrollment in SNAP, WIC, Foster Care or TANF.
A personal statement
A brief letter explaining your financial need, anything the documents don't show, and why this scholarship matters for your athlete. Applying under Tier 4? The statement is the only document you send.
Confidentiality
Private, start to finish
Applications go to our Executive Director, Kim Norby, at executive.director@bendwaves.com. From there, they are reviewed by exactly two people: the club's President and Secretary. Nobody else sees them.
Coaches, team managers and other board members are never told who applied or what a family received. The only thing a coach ever hears is that a player has financial clearance to play.
Decisions are communicated within 14 days of applying. Once an application is verified, paper copies are shredded and digital copies are deleted — your family's finances are not our filing cabinet.
The give-back
The commitment that comes with it
The scholarship asks a little back, so the fund stays strong for the next family.
- Service hours
- Each tier carries a set number of volunteer hours — 15, 10 or 5, as shown with the tiers above — completed by the athlete or a parent or guardian. Think pool setup and takedown, the scoreboard and score table, snack bar help, or small admin tasks. Kim assigns and tracks them.
- Attendance
- Scholarship athletes keep at least an 80% attendance rate at scheduled practices and games.
- Good standing
- Athletes and parents stay in good standing with the club's Code of Conduct.
When an award is made, the family and athlete sign a short Commitment Pledge together — the tier, the remaining family share, the service hours and these promises, all on one page.
How to apply
Applications open with registration in January
Registration for the next season is closed right now, and scholarship applications are taken alongside season registration when it opens in January. There is no separate deadline to watch for — if you're registering and need help, you apply then, in the same breath.
And you never have to wait to ask a question. If cost is the thing standing between your athlete and the pool, talk to Kim anytime. It's confidential, it's a conversation — not a commitment — and it's exactly what the fund is for.
Donate
Give to the fund
The scholarship is sustained by the Cornish family's annual giving, and by Bend Waves families who add a gift of their own when they register. Every dollar goes to getting more Central Oregon kids in the water.
Bend Waves Water Polo Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donors receive a gift receipt for tax purposes. To give, use the club's donate page — and if you'd like your gift to go specifically to the Cornish Scholarship, just say so to Kim or our Treasurer.