The Chuck Allen Scholarship has been a long standing award given to applicants who are chosen based on all of the character qualities most valued by Chuck Allen, the founder of the USASA. Commitment to community, good grades and participation in their chosen forms of education, and commitment to the USASA and the applicants local USASA series.
Those applying were required to show in their applications; personal USASA statistics, a summary of who they are and what their future dreams and hopes were, three letters of recommendation from a coach, teacher or community member on those important character traits, and a sealed official school transcript on academic performance and participation.
The USASA Foundation distributes financial awards to a recipient’s chosen organization to offset their further educational, recreational, or training costs.
2017 Chuck Allen Scholarship recipients Brendon and Konnor Ralph are wonderful examples of USASA athletes who personify the codes of excellence, respect and fun.
Question: Why is being a recipient of the Chuck Allen Scholarship important to you and your freestyle skiing pursuits?
Brendon and Konnor: Receiving the scholarships is an honor! The scholarship committee awarded these to us based on what they read in our applications. Receiving the Chuck Allen Scholarship provides us feedback that our hard work in school, our positive attitudes, our efforts to be kind to others and our goal to become even better freestyle skiers is noticed and appreciated by others.
Question: What are you excited to do with this scholarship?
Brendon and Konnor: Our parents sacrifice in order to allow us to freestyle ski. We are so grateful for the time they commit getting us to competitions, all the money they spend on car expenses, lodging, meals and ski equipment, and definitely for their emotional support and encouragement!
Our scholarship awards will go toward Windells ski camp this summer. This money, on top of what we both earned through our paid jobs, makes Windells possible. Without any coaching opportunities where we live, we merely rely on each other for guidance and coaching.The summer camp opportunity allows us to receive great direction, guidance and support from an actual coach. We are really excited about being able to go!
Question: How has USASA positively affected you life?
Brendon and Konnor: USASA competitions and being a freestyle skier is a major source of joy to us! It’s challenging and super rewarding. When we aren’t skiing we are dreaming about skiing!
Through USASA competitions we have been able to travel and compete in hills across the Inland Northwest were we never would have gone otherwise. We have met a ton of new friends from all over who love skiing as much as we do and also some really supportive adults. USASA has been an incredible experience.
The following is a complete list of the 2017 USASA Foundation Chuck Allen Scholarship recipients:
- Spencer Vagg
- Evan Andrus
- Andre Kemink
- Gillian Arnold
- Brendon Ralph
- Avery Higgins-Lopez
- Hanna Blackwell
- Sophia Saccoccie
- Colin Bentley
- Zachary Poulin
- Kaitlyn Blizzard
- Oskar Chadwell
- Mika Kizuka
- Gunnar Anthony
- Shannon Bently
- Konnor Ralph
- Riley Jacobs
- Shayne Sandblom
- Audrey Higgins-Lopez
- Parker Anthony
- Jake Johnson
- Dante Kemink
- Zack Zaman
- Otto Lichtensleiger
- Martin Khlop
- Ryder Bollock
- Luke Bulloch
- Molly Croes
- Kaiya Quintieri