2017-18 Stacey Cook/SVST Scholarship recipients announced

Veteran U.S. Ski Team member and three-time Olympian Stacey Cook has announced scholarship recipients of the 2017-18 Stacey Cook/Sun Valley Ski Tools (SVST) Competition Team. Recipients are chosen based on criteria such as passion and dedication to the sport, community involvement and character.

Cook, who hopes to be skiing in her fourth Olympic Winter Games this season in PyeongChang, South Korea, is proud of the program and the support she has been able to give juniors in this scholarship program over the last 11 years, in tandem with Jim and Norma Vermillion, owners of SVST.

“I’m very proud of this program to now be in its 11th year. Sport does produce many successes other than just winning, which this scholarship tries to recognize,” said Cook. “I believe heavily in honoring the many successes that this sport creates.

What is so unique about the scholarship is that it is not awarded simply based on merit on the hill, but also looks at attributes of juniors off the hill, encouraging a well-rounded approach to life.

“This group of athletes put many successes on display like the value and joy in working hard, establishing and reaching goals, passion, strong character, and strong mind and bodies amongst many other characteristics,” Cook said. “I truly love this opportunity to give back, but I also know it is really big to have a company and an older athlete believe in you because I was once a recipient of this program myself and owe a lot of my confidence to it.”

Jim and Norma Vermillion also would like to extend a warm welcome to the 2017-18 Stacey Cook/SVST Team.

“We are very proud to provide you with a few products to tune and repair your equipment to the finest standards in the industry,” the Vermillions shared. “Observing the intensity of your commitments as the season progresses is a huge shot in the arm for us to continue with this program year after year. It is our hope that the tools and wax, along with guidance in tuning/waxing techniques from Jeff, and watching Stacey compete in World Cup competitions all over the globe, will inspire you in every area of your life! Being so dedicated as you all are is not easy – we admire your commitment and courage to do what most of us will never experience! Ski safe, ski fast!”

This year Cook has selected seven juniors. Scholarship recipients receive $500 of tools from SVST and $500 of Raceservice Wax.

2017-18 SVST COMPETITION TEAM
(Name, Birth Year, Club, Hometown)

Preston O’Brien, ’01, Sugar Bowl Academy, Greenwood Village, Colo.
Chris and Jack Orear, ’02, Winter Park Competition Center, Winter Park, Colo.
Grace Palmer, ’03, Stratton Mountain School, Arlington, Mass.
Ava Pekarek, ’02, Squaw Valley Ski Team, Truckee, Calif.
Blake Piper, ’99, Green Mountain Valley School, Waitsfield, Vt.
Anastasia Seator-Braun, Mammoth Mountain Ski Team, Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

Release courtesy of U.S. Ski & Snowboard