Alex Kollar & Jillian Webster Memorial Scholarship
Avalanche courses for Pacific Northwest skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and snowshoers who couldn't otherwise afford them.
Why it exists
Good avalanche training costs money, and many people in our community have gone without it for that reason. Each scholarship removes that barrier for one rider: a seat on a full course with a local provider, so they can protect themselves and the people they travel with.
In their honor
Jillian Webster was a professional mountain guide with Mt. Shasta Mountain Guides, a ski patroller at Hoodoo and a teacher, deeply loved by everyone who knew her.
Alex Vincent Kollar was a local snowboarder, cyclist, paraglider and kayaker who cared about sustainability and spent years with the KEFA Project supporting young people in Rwanda. He gave our community endless enthusiasm and generosity.
Values Jillian and Alex lived by.
Care for wild places
Respect for the natural world and a commitment to protecting it.
Service
Helping others, in the world, the region or your own backcountry crew.
Love of learning
Wanting to keep learning, and to share it.
Stoke
A deep, lasting love of mountain adventure.
A seat on a real course
Each scholarship covers one place on a pre-booked course: AIARE Level 1 with Oregon Ski Guides, or Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue with Ullr Backcountry.
Apply in winter
Applications open each winter for that season's courses; last season's deadline was February 1. Tell us which course and dates suit you.
Be there
Course dates are fixed. A place can't be transferred, so apply for dates you can make.
Put a rider through a course.
Every gift to the scholarship fund goes to course places for people who couldn't otherwise go.
Give to the scholarship