Scholarships and Financial Support
It is the mission of NYSEF to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to reach their potential in snow sports through professional guidance and financial support.
Help make your dreams reality.
Submit your scholarship applications to info@nysef.org.
Please note: to be eligible for scholarship from NYSEF, you must be a current NYSEF athlete and at least 12 years of age.
Robert Van Etten Scholarship Fund
Average Award: $2,000 for Two Athletes
Robert “Rob” Van Etten was a talented student-athlete who competed at the high school and collegiate levels in both ski racing and soccer. A graduate of Monticello High School and St. Lawrence University, Rob qualified for and competed in the 1979 NCAA Ski Championships. Rob embodied the qualities of a model student-athlete by maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle while earning the respect and admiration of his teammates and competitors alike. As someone who always remained positive and supportive of others amidst the challenges of sport, Rob’s spirit lives on through this scholarship fund.
Rob’s family created the Robert Van Etten Scholarship Fund in his memory. The fund supports aspiring, hard-working athletes competing at a high level with funding to offset their expenses. The fund will award two $2,000 merit-based scholarships annually to male or female athletes of any snowsport or discipline anticipating increased or unbudgeted expenses to assist with enrollment fees or travel/competition.
John MacKenzie Wilkins Scholarship Fund
Average Award: $2,000
John Wilkins was a member of NYSEF Freeride program. John competed in slopestyle, half pipe, boarder cross and giant slalom. He was the age group USASA series champion in the New York Series several times and competed in multiple USASA National Championships. He competed on the Chevrolet Rev Tour, a series of events held around the country for elite up-and-coming snowboarders.
The Wilkins Family created a scholarship in memory of their charismatic son, John. The scholarship provides support to talented and economically deserving NYSEF male or female athlete/s, in an amount that is meaningful to the athlete/s development. Although the scholarship is available to all disciplines, age groups and venues, athlete/s competing in the NYSEF freeride programs, preferably a full-time athlete, will take precedence. Scholarships can be given out in the form of enrollment support and/or to support competition and travel expenses.
Horst Weber Scholarship Fund
Average Award: $2,500 to Two Athletes
Horst Weber is a former NYSEF Program Director and Head Coach. Upon his retirement from NYSEF in 2000, many of Horst's friends, colleagues and former athletes joined together to establish a scholarship fund as an ongoing tribute to Horst's tireless dedication to NYSEF and to benefit worthy junior skiers.
The Horst Weber Scholarship is an endowed scholarship fund provides financial support to one or more promising NYSEF junior alpine, freeride, nordic or snowboard athletes, male or female, who demonstrate a commitment to reaching their potential in snow sport competition. Funds from this scholarship may be used to defray training or competition expenses such as NYSEF program or enrollment fees, travel costs, race entry fees, equipment or participation in NYSEF or US Ski and Snowboard camps.
Dare to Dream Scholarship Fund
As program and training fees increase, so does the demand for scholarships. The increase in expenses of snowsports has a large impact on keeping athletes in the sport. In some cases, athletes are forced to leave the Adirondacks and pursue their snowsport elsewhere because competing organizations are able to provide significant support. NYSEF is eager to keep our athletes in the region and continue their snowsport careers.
As an athlete grows in their dedicated snowsport, the demand for more competition and the need for travel increases. With this increase, comes expenses that have to be covered by the athlete (and/or their family). In order to provide the best overall support, NYSEF needs to provide the resources for an athlete to excel without being discouraged to participate.
The Dare to Dream Scholarship Fund is an unrestricted fund designed to support athletes who have demonstrated high levels of commitment and dedication to their respective sports and to help them defray costs standing in the way of their dreams. Athletes are awarded based on financial need, coach recommendation, and merit.
The Dare to Dream Fund began with the inaugural NYSEF New York City Fundraiser, held in May of 2011 at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park.
Ingrid Ormsby Scholarship Fund
Average Award: $1,200
Ingrid was born in Czechoslovakia where she began her skiing career at the age of 3. Ingrid lived and skied for 8 years in the Bavarian Alps ski resort town of Oberaudorf, Germany before moving to New Britain, CT at the age of 14 to pursue her skiing dream. In the States, she competed at renowned race events across the world and trained with the U.S. Ski Team. Ingrid was a beloved member of the Whiteface and Lake Placid community. The Ingrid Ormsby Scholarship is dedicated to Ingrid's support of alpine racing for local youth athletes.
This scholarship is awarded annually to an athlete who is pursuing their snowsport career at Whiteface Mountain and participating in NYSEF- an organization that provides educational opportunities for athletes of all ages to reach their potential in snowsports. In addition to being an avid alpine skier, the scholarship recipient must also be in good standing with the local community and their school.
Bill 'Wittso' Witte Scholarship Fund
Average Award: $1,200
The Bill “Wittso” Witte Scholarship was established at the end of 2015 to keep Wittso’s passion for making skiing fun and affordable for youth athletes. The rising costs of winter sports have a significant impact on an athlete’s ability to continue in the sport. This scholarship is awarded to an athlete who demonstrates Wittso’s level of dedication and passion to continue pursuing their alpine skiing career with NYSEF.