Apply for a Grove Athlete Development Scholarship
Review the eligibility requirements and evaluation process below, then submit your application — applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis. All decisions are made by the Grove Athlete Development awards committee and are final.
You Must Meet All Six Requirements
To be considered for admission to the program, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria at the time of application.
Utah residency
Must be a current Utah resident. Proof by valid Utah driver's license/state ID, a current utility bill, or similar documentation (parent/guardian's name for minors).
Age & academic standing
Enrolled in grades K–12 at an accredited Utah school, or as a full/part-time student at an accredited collegiate institution. Homeschool families may qualify with documented transcripts comparable to a K–12 standard.
Active team membership
Current member of a NICA-affiliated team (K–12) or recognized collegiate cycling team at the time of application.
Race participation
At least one sanctioned MTB race in the current or immediately preceding season. First-year athletes may be considered case-by-case.
Coach or director recommendation
A written recommendation affirming active participation, commitment, competitive trajectory, and good standing.
3.0+ cumulative GPA
Maintained on a 4.0 scale at time of application; an official transcript or grade report may be requested.
The Milestone Bonus Model
Awards use a Milestone Bonus Model driven by self-sourced fundraising. Once admitted, you raise funds for your season, keep 75% of every dollar raised, and when you cross the thresholds below, GAD adds fixed bonuses from its retained share to your award balance as credits — paid out upon eligible expense submissions, like all other funds. Full definitions and worked examples are on the Mission & Purpose page, and the Finding Sponsors guide shows you how to raise them.
75% to you, 25% to GAD
You retain 75% of all funds you raise for your athletic season. GAD's retained 25% funds operating costs, seeds future scholarships, and funds the milestone bonus credits below.
Crossing it adds a $250 milestone bonus to your award balance as a credit — $1,750 total earned award, received through expense reimbursements.
Crossing it adds a $500 milestone bonus to your award balance as a credit — $4,250 total earned award, received through expense reimbursements.
Crossing it adds a $1,000 milestone bonus to your award balance as a credit — $8,500 total earned award, received through expense reimbursements.
How Scholarship Applications Are Reviewed
Admission is decided holistically across the six factors below — no single criterion is determinative. How much you expect to fundraise doesn't influence admission; it determines which milestone bonus credits you can earn after you're admitted.
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01
Race history & activity
Races completed in the current/prior season and races planned for the upcoming season.
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02
Training & coaching involvement
Participation in structured training programs, coaching relationships, or training camps.
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03
Coach assessment of trajectory
Where the athlete is headed, and how the award would support that progression — not just current performance.
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04
Years of active participation
Longevity in the sport, considered alongside development stage so newer athletes aren't disadvantaged.
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05
Race results & standing
Considered as one indicator among many — not weighted heavily, since financial barriers can limit race frequency.
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06
Academic standing
Your cumulative GPA (the 3.0 eligibility requirement) is also considered in the holistic review.
What You'll Need
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A written recommendation from your current head coach or team director
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A simple estimate of your season's costs (fees, travel, lodging, equipment, coaching) — used to set your award cap, not to rank you
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An official or school-issued transcript or grade report, if requested
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Once admitted, you'll fundraise for your season — the Finding Sponsors guide (with printable templates) shows you how; no sponsor list is required to apply
Who Isn't Eligible
An applicant is not eligible if they are not in good standing with their team, do not maintain a 3.0 GPA, have been suspended by NICA or another applicable governing body, or received a prior award and failed to submit required post-award documentation.
The awards committee reserves the right to request additional documentation and to prioritize awards based on available funding, application volume, and program goals. All decisions are final.
From Application to Reimbursement
The process is simple: apply, get admitted, then participate — fundraise for your season, race it, and submit receipts as you go.
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01
Apply
Submit your application any time of year with your eligibility documentation — coach recommendation, GPA verification if requested, and a simple estimate of your season's costs. No sponsor list required.
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02
Get admitted
The awards committee reviews applications holistically, taking up to 30 days, and you'll hear back by email once a decision is made. If admitted, you (or a parent/guardian, for minors) sign the scholarship agreement before any funds move.
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03
Participate — fundraise & race
Raise funds for your season through sponsors and community supporters, who donate to GAD tax-deductibly, and race your approved competitive season. You keep 75% of every dollar raised. Not sure where to start? See Finding Sponsors.
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04
Submit receipts, get reimbursed
Pay for approved expenses as you go, then submit itemized receipts within 30 days of the funded activity or season's end (whichever comes first). Reimbursements come from your retained 75% plus earned milestone bonuses.
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05
Milestone bonuses credited as thresholds are crossed
As your fundraising crosses $2,000, $5,000, and $10,000, GAD adds fixed bonuses of $250, $500, and $1,000 from its retained share to your award balance as credits — automatically, no re-application. Like all other funds, you receive them by submitting eligible expense reimbursements, never as direct payments.
Three Things That Catch People Off Guard
Reimbursements are capped by your award. Total reimbursable expenses — including both the athlete's and an accompanying adult's meal allowances — can't exceed your retained funds (75% of what you raised) plus your earned milestone bonuses per calendar year. GAD will not add funds beyond that cap regardless of actual expenses incurred.
You'll sign an agreement before funds move. Before any funds are disbursed, selected athletes (or a parent/guardian, for minors) must sign a scholarship agreement provided by GAD, covering award terms and a liability release for accidents, injuries, or bodily harm. This agreement is still being finalized.
You need your own medical insurance. GAD's general liability insurance policy does not cover individual award recipients' competitive activities — it provides no medical or injury coverage for individual athletes. Families are responsible for their own medical insurance.
Reimbursement is receipt-based: itemized receipts for all claimed expenses are due within 30 days of the funded activity or the season's end, whichever comes first. Missed documentation deadlines make an athlete ineligible for future awards until resolved.
Submit Your Application
Applications are accepted year-round. You can edit your response after submitting, but edits aren't guaranteed to be considered once the committee has begun reviewing your application — so have your coach recommendation and a simple estimate of your season's costs ready before you begin.
What happens next: the awards committee reviews applications within up to 30 days of submission, and you'll hear back by email once a decision is made.