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National Ski Patrol (NSP) is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s National Avalanche School (NAS) scholarships, made possible through the generous support of North American Rescue Dogs (NARD) and Mammut. These scholarships give dedicated patrollers the opportunity to strengthen their avalanche knowledge and bring life-saving expertise back to their teams and communities.

NAS is the premier training program for ski patrollers and aspiring avalanche professionals, exceeding American Avalanche Association (A3) Pro 1 standards. The event connects students with leading experts, ensuring graduates gain not only technical knowledge but also real-world skills to reduce avalanche-related incidents, injuries, and fatalities.

Notably, six of the nine recipients are women—reflecting NSP’s ongoing commitment to elevating and supporting women in patrol.

“National Ski Patrol is proud to deepen our commitment to the National Avalanche School, the premier training program for ski patrollers and aspiring avalanche professionals. We believe that rigorous, in-person education is essential to advancing the avalanche industry and achieving our shared goal of reducing avalanche-related incidents, injuries, and fatalities,” said Stephanie Cox, NSP CEO.

Supporting Mountain Safety Through Partnerships

These scholarships are made possible through the support of partners who share NSP’s vision for safer mountains.

• Mammut, NSP’s official uniform partner, has inspired people to push their limits in the mountains for over 160 years. Guided by the belief that challenges help us grow, Mammut supports avalanche education to build stronger, safer teams in the most demanding environments.
• North American Rescue Dogs (NARD) is the largest nonprofit organization providing grants for search and rescue training for individuals and their rescue companions, ensuring that mountain safety teams are ready when it matters most.

Mammut Scholarship Recipients

With Mammut’s support, four patrollers will attend NAS and bring advanced avalanche knowledge back to their patrols:

Katie Oliver – A fifth-year patroller in Grand County, Katie works with her resort’s avalanche dog team, manages weather forecasting, and mentors new patrollers. “I want my teammates to look around and know they’re surrounded by highly trained, capable professionals, and this scholarship will directly support that goal.”

Sara Bonipart – A patroller at Park City with a background in outdoor education, Sara is building her career in patrol leadership. “Attending the NAS is an essential career-building block as I continue to work towards positions of leadership and mentorship as an outdoor professional.”

Linden Wyatt – Now patrolling at Whitefish Mountain Resort, Linden brings experience from patrols across the Northeast. “Earning my Pro 1 will enable me to provide a better, safer experience to our guests at Whitefish and my colleagues on patrol.”

Ian Bolliger – A volunteer patroller and avalanche instructor with Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol, Ian also serves as NSP’s Eastern Sierra Region Avalanche Advisor. “Support from the NAS will allow me to keep up-to-date by learning from the latest experts in the field. I’m excited to then pass that knowledge along to the 10 instructors and instructor trainees within our patrol, as well as the patrols across the Eastern Sierra Region.”

NARD Scholarship Recipients

Thanks to NARD’s support, five patrollers will attend the National Avalanche School and further their expertise in avalanche safety:

Morgan Throckmorton – A patroller at Lost Trail Ski Area and avalanche dog co-handler, Morgan is working toward becoming an NSP avalanche instructor. “This training is an important step toward my goal of becoming an NSP avalanche instructor this year, which will allow me to share knowledge with more patrollers and further contribute to our team’s effectiveness at Lost Trail.”

Annabelle Kays – A fourth-year patroller at Crystal Mountain, WA, Annabelle also works as a mountain guide on Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, and Denali. “As a route leader and dog handler, strong decision-making is critical, and this training helps me continue growing in a career I’m committed to for the long haul.”

James DePew – Returning to his home mountain of Alpine Meadows, James brings his background as an urban first responder and emergency room worker to patrol. “Advanced avalanche training will enhance my ability to assess snow conditions and implement safety protocols that protect our team and guests.”

Raven Cashen – A third-year patroller at Telluride and former wildland firefighter, Raven is passionate about avalanche education and outreach. “I’m grateful to be part of the next generation of ski patrollers learning at the highest level and to bring that knowledge back to my patrol team.”

Molly Hoelper – After leaving a career in engineering, Molly now patrols at Deer Valley Resort and volunteers with Salt Lake County Search and Rescue. “The knowledge I gain will strengthen my ability to assess complex snow conditions, make sound safety decisions, and bring advanced practices back to our patrol team.”

Building Safer Mountain Communities

The dedication of these nine recipients reflects the heart of NSP’s mission: advancing avalanche education to keep mountains safe for all. With the support of NARD and Mammut, these scholarships not only strengthen individual careers but also ripple outward — improving decision-making, training, and safety for entire patrol teams and mountain communities.

NSP is proud to celebrate the 2025 NAS scholarship recipients and grateful to our partners for their commitment to avalanche education. Together, we are building safer mountains and empowering the next generation of avalanche professionals.