Our Short History
As with many great ideas, it often takes time before they come to fruition, this memorial scholarship fund was no exception. Melissa Malm and Chris Peck conceived the idea for the fund in 2011, with the first scholarship awarded in 2013.
The $1500 award was donated by the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol, the Kirby Williams and Gregory Smith families and presented to Morgan McGlashon at the Jackson Hole High School Scholarship awards event in April 2013. Morgan went on to Middlebury College, vigorously pursuing her passion for outdoor adventure.
The following April 2014 after raising $3000, the fund awarded two $1500 scholarships. However, we had larger goals in mind, wanting to generate more funds and reach a larger donor base. The Doug Coombs Foundation generously agreed to be our fiscal sponsor for the September 2014 Old Bills Fun Run allowing us to achieve those goals.
The fund presented five $1000 scholarships in April 2015. And in the same month received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status allowing the fund to participate in the 2015 Old Bills Fun Run as an official nonprofit.
April 2016 saw the fund award four $2000 scholarships! This has been the best fund raising effort to date and we look forward to not only raising more funds but more importantly supporting the further education and enriching the lives of our local students in the kindred spirit and memory of patrollers no longer with us.