November 2024 Doc Hunkler Grant Newsletter Available; Texas A&M University Men & University of Utah Women Inaugural Recipients of Grants

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The Dr. Richard F. “Doc” Hunkler Grants program bestowed the inaugural/Fall 2024 awards to Texas A&M University men’s collegiate club and University of Utah women’s collegiate club teams.  In addition, the group released its inaugural/Fall 2024 newsletter.

Created and administered by the alumni of the Slippery Rock University men’s and women’s water polo teams, the grant is named in honor of their longtime coach and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) founding father Richard F. “Doc” Hunkler.

The mission of the program is to further enhance Dr. Hunkler’s coaching legacy by supporting those who compete in the sport he devoted his life to and truly cherished. This grant is designed to provide financial assistance to members of the CWPA varsity and/or club leagues to excel in the competition arena.

“We are truly grateful for the Doc Hunkler Grant, as it will help us continue to develop our water polo skills and attain our team goals,” noted Texas A&M men’s club President Benny Leger.

The presentation to Texas A&M is especially notable as Hunkler was an All-America water polo program under the tutelage of Art Adamson – the longtime coach of the Aggies’ swimming and water polo programs.

“The University of Utah Women’s Water Polo Club is honored to receive the Richard F. “Doc” Hunkler Grant,” stated Utah women’s club President Joey Edmonds.  ” To have Doc’s legacy honored through such a charitable program has a profound impact on clubs like ours, allowing us all to continue participating in the sport with the same passion Coach Hunkler did. We extend our tremendous thanks to the Collegiate Water Polo Association, and the Richard F. “Doc” Hunkler Grant Program for this incredible contribution.”

Grant recipients must compete at institutions that are active members of the CWPA Water Polo Association. A school (“recipient”) can only receive one “Richard F. “Doc” Hunkler Water Polo Grant Program” award each calendar year.

Award recipients are determined by the grant selection committee which reviews proposals and the selection of recipients.

This Hunkler Grant initiative is funded by donations directly in the name of Richard F. “Doc” Hunkler Grant Program to the CWPA which is a 501 c 3.

Recipients claim one year of grant funding from the “Doc” Hunkler Grant Program for support. Grants range from $500 to $5,000 per academic year with funding limited to the following: Travel costs, tournament fees, equipment needs, food, uniforms and assistant coaches.

With competitions for men’s and women’s teams occurring at different times of the year, the grant provides two opportunities to receive funding at the following times with application deadlines established for January 1 and August 1.

Proposal materials for potential grants must be successfully submitted prior to the deadline via email to office@collegiatewaterpolo.org and must include the following – but not limited to:

• Brief description of the proposal
• Team, Club and gender
• Purpose and key anticipated outcomes
• Individuals or team being served
• Amount of funding requested
• Overview of how funds will be spent
• Timeline
• Primary grant contact information
• A detailed budget for the season and how this grant works with your budget
• An explanation of why you are pursuing this grant and how it will benefit your team
• A description of how the grant’s success will be evaluated
• Please provide your team/club mission or vision statement

A selection committee is responsible for the review of proposals and selection of grant recipients. Committee members include four alumni from Slippery Rock University who played water polo for Dr. Hunkler and three members of the immediate Hunkler family. The four alumni spots are awarded based on a rotation schedule and opened for other SRU alumni wanting to serve.

For more information on the Hunkler Grant Program, CLICK HERE.