The Rocky Mountain Division has scholarships available for members and their families through the "Rocky Mountain Ski Instructors Educational Foundation". Below is a listing of the available scholarships and information:

Applications are downloadable in PDF format.
If you do not have the PDF viewer you can download it at

EDUCATIONAL FUND ENTRY-LEVEL SCHOLARSHIP Application

Who may apply: PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI members in good standing with a minimum of 25 hours teaching verified by their member school.

Type of event: Preferred to be entry-level clinics for level 1 certification in any discipline.

Scholarship amount: Five $100 scholarships per season.

Details of application: Send a letter of application to PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI outlining your work as a ski instructor, financial need and educational plans.

Application deadline: May submit application letter anytime during the current season for an upcoming event.

Back to Top

JEFF PATTERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Application

Who may apply: PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI members in good standing with a minimum of 25 hours teaching verified by their member school.

Type of event: Preferred to be entry-level clinics for level 1 certification in any discipline.

Scholarship amount: Five $100 scholarships per season.

Details of application: Send a letter of application to PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI outlining your work as a ski instructor, financial need and educational plans.

Application deadline: May submit application letter anytime during the current season.

Back to Top

OSKAR STECKEL SCHOLARSHIP

Who may apply: PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI members who teach for the Loveland Ski Area and are attending a certification event or the annual academy.

Type of event: Annual academy or certification.

Scholarship amount: Two $100 scholarships.

Details of application: Send a letter of application to PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI outlining your work as a ski instructor, financial need and educational plans.

Application deadline: May submit application letter anytime during the current season.

Oskar Steckal was a 12-year member of PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI who taught skiing at Loveland. The German born free spirit had a terrific love of skiing and tried to pass on his passion through his outgoing teaching persona. One of Oskar's other trademarks was his trusty VW bug which he drove everywhere. Oskar passed away after losing a battle with leukemia. The Steckel Scholarship salutes a man worth remembering.

Details of Scholarship
--Loveland instructor group for Level II or III certification.
--Must be a student who needs financial assistance.
--Friendly, outgoing, and helpful.
--Annuity - $100/year until enough in fund to give $150 per year.
--Selections made by John Lewis and Fred Tronnier.
--Other definitive information to be added later.

Back to Top

EDWIN TERRELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Application

Who may apply: Current PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI members who teach in the Southern District.

Type of event: Edwin Terrell Memorial Clinic.

Scholarship amount: Tuition to the Edwin Terrell Memorial clinic.

Details of application: Send a letter of application to PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI along with a written recommendation from your member school director.

Application deadline: January 1 of the season applying.

Edwin Terrell was a PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI Alpine Divisional Clinic Leader who worked as a staff trainer and racing coach at the Santa Fe Ski School. He valued his ski education very highly and was always looking to expand it along with the education of other ski instructors. Edwin was also an accomplished climber. He climbed and skied for the joy and experience of it and lived to share this love with others. Edwin's spirit remains alive through this memoriam.

Back to Top

RUDI AND DOTTIE SCHNACKENBERG SCHOLARSHIP Application

Who may apply: Fully certified (for at least 3 years) Alpine or Nordic ski instructors who are PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI members and who are teaching skiing full time.

Type of event: PSIA National academy.

Scholarship amount: Three $300 scholarships are available each year.

Details of application: Submit the application along with your National Academy application and a letter from your member school director verifying your full time employment to the office. Recipients must submit a written article regarding their educational experiences at the National Academy to PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI upon their return from the Academy in order to receive the $300 reimbursement. Articles will be printed in the divisional newsletter. (Applications may be obtained from the PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI office or downloaded here)

Application deadline: April 1st of the year applying.

Rudi Schnackenberg first learned to ski in 1937 at Berthoud Pass when some friends stuck him on 8-foot jumping skis in a blizzard. He gained great command of the sport and became a competitor, a skiing and mountaineering trainer for the US Army and held many other skiing related positions including ski school supervisor. Rudi started the "Rocky Mountain Ski Instructors Association", the precursor to PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI, in 1951 and based the association in his home. In subsequent years, Rudi's wife, Dottie, was a driving force with the organization and took over the position of Executive Secretary in 1983. Her efforts allowed the association to continue to grow and serve its members. This scholarship represents Rudi and Dottie's love of skiing and their dedication to the members of PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI.

Back to Top

DARYLE BOGENRIEF SCHOLARSHIP FUND Application

Who may apply: New PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI members in good standing with a minimum of 25 hours teaching verified by their member school.

Type of eligible event: Entry-level courses for new instructors, preferably Adaptive but will not be limited by discipline.

Scholarship amount: Two $250 awards per year until 2012 when the number of awards will be re-evaluated.

Details of application: Submit application to the PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI office along with an explanation using 500 words or less regarding the amount of the request, the purpose for which the grant will be used, and the reason that financial assistance is needed. (Applications can be obtained from the PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI office or downloaded here.)

Application deadline: January 31st of the year applying.

Daryle began membership with PSIA/AASI in January, 2001. He attained all three levels of certification by April 2003 then proceeded to Alpine Trainer Accredited status in April, 2004. He was selected an Alpine Examiner 1 in April, 2005 - one of the youngest people to be selected in recent years. Daryle passed away in the summer of 2005 in a rafting accident. During his time as an instructor he had a passion for helping returning soldiers to ski. This scholarship has been established to assist new instructors in their path to certification.

Back to Top

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SKI INSTRUCTORS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP Application

Who may apply: PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI members in good standing and their immediate families.

Type of event: The grant may be used for tuition, fees or equipment costs incurred while attending a traditional college or university, technical institute, trade school or other specialized training offered by a legitimate entity.

Scholarship amount: $500 payable to the institution the successful candidate plans to attend.

Details of application: Applications can be obtained from the PSIA-Rocky Mountain-AASI office or downloaded here. Please specify whether the application is for a member or dependent. Faxed applications will not be accepted.

Application deadline: June 30 of the year applying.

The Rocky Mountain Ski Instructors Educational Foundation is committed to educational excellence and believes that educational opportunities should be accessible to all members. Therefore, in 1995, the Educational Foundation Scholarship was created as a member benefit to assist Rocky Mountain Members and their families in realizing their educational goals.

Back to Top