Merit Awards

Nominations for VARA Merit Awards should be completed by the coach or program director on the Google Form. Nominations will be considered for current VARA Member athletes. Recipients must have been a member of VARA for at least two seasons and must be current members. Nominations for age class U16 through U21 will be considered. 

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VARA Merit Award Descriptions


Wondering who all the incredible people are who are honored through VARA's Merit Awards?

Remembrances of those who are our Merit Scholarships are named. The stories behind these extremely significant individuals are so much bigger than any words can say as they helped build and shape Alpine Skiing in Vermont. Their lives impacted VARA and Vermont skiers in so many ways.


Click here for more info on those honored through VARA's Merit Awards. Or click on the name above the descriptions below.


VARA GEORGE TORMEY AWARD (U16-21)
This award is presented to an athlete who excels at a second sport and best displays a strong work ethic, strong character, and a deep love of sport.  The amount is $1000.

JINNY HUNT AWARD (U16+)
This award is presented to one girl and one boy from a VARA club, college or program who best exhibit sportsmanship at the U21-16 level and;
1) Displays dedication and commitment to the sport of ski racing at all levels. (College, VARA, FIS, etc.)
2) Inspires younger athletes by being strong role models and displays leadership both on/off the hill.
3) Shows interest in the development and future of the sport of ski racing.
The amount is $500 each.

BETTY CLAYTON AWARD  (U16-U21)

This award is presented to a U21-16 level athlete who has attained top results while participating in a club program. The amount is $1000.

THE MICKEY COCHRAN AWARD  (U18-U21)
This award is presented to an athlete competing at the FIS levels, is a Vermont resident, and has come up through the Vermont Council system. The amount is $1000.

SHELLEY GLOVER AWARD (U18-21)
The Vermont Alpine Racing Association is pleased to create and support the Shelley Glover Scholarship. Shelley attended Burke Mountain Academy, becoming an admired member of the ski racing community. In an effort to honor her contributions and impact on those around her, this $1,000.00 scholarship will be presented yearly to a young individual who exemplifies the qualities Shelley was best known for. The following criteria will be used to determine the recipient. Shelly’s family, friends, coaches, and teachers created these guidelines.

*An individual who shows compassion for those around us who are in need.
*Reaches out to and enjoys working with younger individuals.
*Displays dedication and commitment to academics.
*Inspires fellow athletes to reach their potential, raise their expectations and exceed their limitations.
*Skis with passion, power, and determination.
*Demonstrates tenacity, perseverance, and drive through their training.
*Enjoys the journey that leads one to success.

RONNIE BERLACK AWARD (U18+) This award is presented to the VARA member athlete who exhibits drive and determination and has successfully pushed through the selection and nomination process for the NTG,  D Team, or C Team programs. This individual thrives on the experiences of the journey and has a true love of the sport. The amount is $1,000 to assist in funding the program’s fees.

VARA COLLEGIATE SKIER OF THE YEAR
VT College and University alpine ski racers will be acknowledged for their accomplishments at the regional and national level.
Criteria include:
The recipient must be a VARA member.
Must be a VT Collegiate skier participating on a collegiate team. NCAA, USCSA
The recipient is acknowledged based on:
Devotion to the sport of alpine skiing
Team leadership
Camaraderie, Sportsmanship, Overall character

 


VARA MERIT AWARDS HISTORY

VARA GEORGE TORMEY AWARD U16-21

2000 - Dave Coriell/KMS
2001 - Sabra Davison/SNSC
2002 - Lea Davison/MC, SNSC
2003 - Kara Crow/MMSC
2004 - Cody Larson/KMS
2005 - Megan Howard/MMSC
2006 - Annie Rendall/MMSC
2007 – Margot Benedict/BOC
2008 – Robby Kelley/MMSC
2009 – Cameron Furrer/MMSC
2010 - Brittany Lathrop/SMS
2011 – Andrew Kimbell/KMS
2012 – Ben Scheu/ KMS
2013 - Danielle Brownell-Patty/BMA
2014 - Ian Clark/KMS
2015 - Ben Ritchie/GMVS
2016 - Carver Provance/OMS
2017 - Jackson Jewel/GMVS
2018
2019 - Harrison Digangi/SMS
2020 - Drew Visnic/OMS
2021 - Sam Hambsh/OMS
2022 - Eliza Sullivan/SMS
2023 - Lev Dransfield/Cochran's

 

 

JINNY HUNT AWARD

2000 - Greg Petrics/ KMS, Lauren Ross/MMSC
2001 - Jessica Kelley/MMSC, Jesse Marshall/GMVS
2002 - Jamie Kingsbury/ UVM, GMVS, Greg Hardy/ SMS, Wardsboro, VT
2003 - Lindsay Brush/GMVS, Dave Coriell/MC
2004 – Lindsay Cone/BMA, Jeff Hackett/KMS
2005 – Chelsea Marshall/GMVS/USST, Tim Kelley/MMSC
2006 – Lindsay Cone/BMA/USST, Jack Reed/BMA
2007 – Bryana Park/GMVS, Nolan Kasper/BMA/USST D
2008 – Annie Rendall/MMSC, Nolan Kasper/BMA
2009 – Bobby Farrell/MMSC, Annie Rendall/MMSC
2010 - Rainie Hill Provance /OMS/Okemo, Cameron Price- KMS
2011 - Brittany Lathrop/ SMS, Danny Duffy – GMVS
2012 – Raine Hill/OMS, Quinn Trainer/ OMS
2013 - Moriah Wilson/BMA, Drew Duffy/GMVS
2014 - Ryan Znamierowski/KMS, Karin Rand/Cochran's
2015 - Andy Kenosh/Pico, Megan Ahearn/SWSC
2016 - Bo Underhill/KMS, Sarah Mangiacotti/SMS
2017 - Diego Holscher/SMS,  Erika Wiebe/GMVS
2018 - Dan Gillis/BMA, Sophia Holm/SMS
2019 - Jack Hayden/Cochran's, Claire Waters/BMA
2020 - Josh Rosenberg/OMS, Elyse Donaghue/OMS
2021 - Ryan Thompson/OMS, Shelby Graves/KMS
2022 - Sophia Bechtel/MMA, Sam Hambsch/OMS
2023 - Graham Stein/OMS, Lily Vest/Pico


BETTY CLAYTON AWARD

2000 - Brigid Horigan/STC
2001 - Maggie McCann/Pico Ski Club
2002 - Ashley Maxfield/LOC
2003 – Mimi DeTolla/Okemo
2004 – Lily McNealus/S6
2005 – Sam Wunsch/SNSC
2006 – Sam Wunsch/SNSC
2007 – Danny Moore/SS6
2008 - Margot Benedict/BOC
2009 – Katie Cutting/GMVS Club
2010 - Peter Schow/BOC
2011 - Cody Putre/GMVS
2012 - Allie Ziegler/BOC
2013 - Justin Chardavoyne/BOC
2014 - Sami Rubin/Pico
2015 - Tommy Kenosh/Pico
2016 - Tommy Kenosh/Pico
2017 - Austin Roussel/Pico
2018 - Blake Greene/SWSC
2019 - Kelly Gebhardt/WSR/GMVS
2020- John Kerbaugh/MMSCA
2021 - Deena Jacunski/Cochran's
2022 - Caleb Brytowski/KMS
2023 - Emmy Marron/Cochran's


MICKEY COCHRAN AWARD

2000 - Hannah Kriezel/MMSC
2001 - Erin Makowski/KMS
2002 - Chelsea Marshall/GMVS
2003 - Bryana Park/SNSC
2004 - Erik Gilbert/MMSC
2005 - Brian Swartz/KMS
2006 - Heidi Robbins/KMS
2007 - Kristen Leggett/KMS
2008 - Ryan Cochran Siegle/MMSC
2009 - Danny Moore/KMS
2010 - Jordan Leach/MMSC
2011 - Elle Gilbert/S6/Stratton
2012 - Kelsey Chenoweth/MMSC
2013 - Cody Putre/COCH
2014 - Colby Jordan/MMWA
2015 - Jessie Kuzmicki/MSA
2016 - Hannah Utter/GMVS
2017 - Crawford Jones/KMS
2018 - Sam Hayden/MMSC
2019 - Viva Goetz/Cochran's
2020 - Aidan Bennett/KMS
2021 - Haven Loring/SMS
2022 - Ada Jones/GMVS
2023 - Meagan Boyer - SNSC



THE SHELLEY GLOVER AWARD

2004 - Nolan Kasper/BMA
2005 - Stefan Hughes BMA/KMS
2006 – Tasha Woodworth/BMA
2007 – Brian Morgan/BMA
2008 – Andrew McNealus/GMVS
2009 – Miles Derrick/GMVS
2010 – Morgan Klein/SMS
2011 – Linley Shaw/MMSC
2012 – Amanda Reilly/SMS
2013 - Greg Murray/OMS
2014 - Alice Merryweather/SMS
2015 - Bobby Ryan/KMS
2016 - Hanako Kusumi/SMS
2017 - Mikayla Lathrop/SMS
2018 - Steph Profitt/BMA
2019 - Olivia Holm/SMS/BMA
2020 - Jane Gutchess/SMS
2021 - Eva Morin/SMS
2022 - Josh Rosenberg/OMS
2023 - Henriette Borgia/SMS


RONNIE BERLACK AWARD

2016 - Patrick Kenney/BMA
2017 - Jimmy Krupka/GMVS/USST
2018 - Ben Ritchie/GMVS/USST
2019 - Aidan Robin/BMA
2020 - Zoe Zimmermann/BMA/USST
2021 - Justin Bigatel - BMA
2022 - John Kerbaugh/MMA
2023 - Sawyer Reed/GMVS

 

VARA COLLEGIATE SKIER OF THE YEAR

2006 - Megan Hughes-Middlebury College
2007 - Erik Gilbert – University of VT
2008 - Andrew Wagner – Middlebury College
2009 – Natasha Woodworth - Middlebury College
2010 - Erik Gilbert - University of VT 
2011 - Tim Kelley - University of VT
2012 - Bobby Farrell - University of VT
2013 - Andrew McNealus - Middlebury College
2014 - Brad Farrell - St. Michael's College
2015 - Robert Cone -Middlebury Colege
2016 - Danny Duffy - St. Michael's College
2017 - Caroline Bartlett - Middlebury College
2018 - Paul Rechberger/Castleton University
2019 - Laurence St Germain/UVM
2020 - Tim Gavett/Middlebury College
2021 -
2022 - Bradshaw Underhill/Middlebury College
2023 - Gray Flannagan/SMC


VARA Leadership Award

2008 -  Mattie Ford - Middlebury College, Chad Hedlund - Killington Mountain School
2009 -  Nicole Dvorak - Middlebury College,  Erik Gilbert - University of VT
2010 -  Bobby Farrell - Mount Mansfield Ski Club,  Lilly Mcnealus – Suicide Six/Woodstock Ski Runners
2011 -  Kara Shaw - Burke Mtn Academy,  Rob Cone - Middlebury College
2012 -  Lisa Schroer - Burle Mtn Academy,  Danny Duffy - Green Mtn Valley School
2013 -  Casey Abraham- OMS, Kyle Burcin-KMS
(Combined with the Betty Clayton Award)