Western Education Foundation

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The mission of the Education Foundation is to provide education opportunities for PSIA/AASI-Western instructors looking to enhance their personal growth and further their careers in snowsports instruction.

 

Examples of some of The Education Foundations projects:

  • Direct support of PSIA/AASI-W events such as the Professional Development Day to make education less expensive and more available to our members.
  • Supported consistent and unified National standards for certification by funding National Standards training
  • Supported the educational and professional development of individual members through scholarships

History of the Foundation:

The PSIA-W Education Foundation was incorporated in 1993 and accepted as a 501 (c)(3) by the IRS in 1995. The early organizing committee included Greg Felsch, Blaine Lomen and Katherine Hayes-Rodriguez. The initial goals of the Foundation were to raise money to cover the cost of producing publications, such as the Division newsletter and exam manuals and to offset costs of events for our members for events such as Convention or Fall Rally. One of the early accomplishments of the Foundation was production and distribution of the Master Plan document in the mid-1990s. The Foundation continues to support the mission of PSIA by supporting development of individual members through scholarships and funding education projects.

The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) Organization in good standing, Federal ID # 77-0381837. The Foundation is supervised by the Education Foundation Board of Directors.

Your Education Foundation Board of Directors:

  • Katherine Hayes-Rodriguez, President
  • Blaine Lomen, Vice-President
  • Dave Sutherland, Secretary
  • Artie Castro, Treasurer
  • Nick Treat, Director

Contact Us

Interested in applying for a scholarship? Visit our Scholarship Application page.

History Of The Foundation

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HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION

The Education Foundation was established in 1994 to provide financial assistance to PSIA/AASI-W  instructors looking to enhance their personal growth and further their careers in snow sports instruction.

The mission of the Foundation is to provide education opportunities for professional ski and snowboard instructors.Examples of some of our projects:

    • Supported consistent and unified National standards for certification by funding National Standards training
    • Funded “New Member Welcome Days” to help introduce potential new members to the Association
    • Supported the educational and professional development of individual members through scholarships
    • Supported creative educational materials within Western Division, such as translating new member materials into Spanish
    • Direct support of PSIA/AASI-W events to make education less expensive and more available to our members

History of the Foundation

The PSIA-W Education Foundation was incorporated in 1993 and accepted as a 501 (c)(3) by the IRS in 1995. The early organizing committee included Greg Felsch, Blaine Lomen and Katherine Hayes-Rodriguez. The initial goals of the Foundation were to raise money to cover the cost of producing publications, such as the Division newsletter and exam manuals and to offset costs of events for our members for events such as Convention or Fall Rally. One of the early accomplishments of the Foundation was production and distribution of the Master Plan document in the mid-1990s. The Foundation continues to support the mission of PSIA by supporting development of individual members through scholarships and funding education projects.

Mike and Miriam Sodergren

Mike and Miriam Sodergren

The Sodergren Fund

In 1997, Mike and Miriam (Mim) Sodergren were killed in a landslide in Thredbo, Australia. Mike and Mim were beloved and respected as instructors, educators and motivators. They served the Division as examiners/clinicians for PSIA-W, regional demonstration team member (Mike), Junior Education Team member (Mim), and co-founders of ski school programs such as the Women’s program at Alpine Meadows (Mim) and the North American Ski Training Center (Mike). After the 1997 tragedy, some members of the Association, including Chris Fellows, Barclay Moore, and many others ?? helped to set up a Fund to honor the memory of the Sodergrens’. The Sodergren Fund assists full-time instructors who have invested themselves fully in the profession of ski instruction and demonstrate a willingness to ‘give back’ their time, energy and enthusiasm

The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) Organization in good standing, Federal ID # 77-0381837. The Foundation is supervised by the Education Foundation Board of Directors.

Contact information for your Education Foundation Board of Directors:

Jenn Taylor, President

Blain Lomen, Commitee Chair Secretary

Artie Castro, Treasurer

Kathryn Hayes-Rodriguez, Director

Bryan Schilling, Director

How Scholarships are funded:

Scholarships are funded primarily through donations of our members, participation in the Fall Golf Tournament and the Silent Auction Fundraiser at our Spring Convention.

Interested in creating a new scholarship? Please contact the PSIA/AASI-W office.

Women’s Summit – Special Funds Account: If you are looking for information on how to donate to the Women’s Summit – Special Funds Account, please contact Heidi Ettlinger at 530.318.8661 or heidiettlinger@aol.com,

Interested in applying for a scholarship? Visit our Scholarship Application page.

General information about the Foundation, you can email: info@psia-w.org

Scholarship Application

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The Sodergren Scholarship is designed to give ‘career’ instructors an opportunity to attend a Multi-day clinic, such as National Academy, or the PSIA/AASI Spring Convention, or other full immersion clinic opportunities that will enhance personal and professional growth. The ideal is to reward dedicated instructors with a potentially ‘life changing’ event.

To apply:  Scholarship Application online form.

Please read  and complete the Scholarship Application, and follow criteria carefully. Incomplete applications will not be considered.The deadline for applying for any of the below listed scholarships is 5 pm February 1. Please read and follow criteria carefully. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Criteria: that is potentially life-changing. Scholarships will be evaluated based on

          • Your Commitment to the industry.
          • Consistent contribution to your snowsports school
          • How the scholarship will help you fulfill your personal goals, and help the Foundation in carrying out it’s vision.

Sodergren Scholarship recipients are generally full-time instructors who have invested themselves fully in the profession of ski instruction. They display the qualities that Mike and Mim held in high regard. Their passion for the the sport, but most importantly, they gave their time and available resources to anyone who was willing to come along with a sense of humor.

 Use it or lose it: Successful applicants must use their scholarship during the season it was awarded. If you are unable to use your scholarship due to illness, injury or other unavoidable issues, you can re-apply the following season.