We are proud to offer aspiring backcountry enthusiasts the chance to bolster their knowledge in avalanche awareness and safe winter travel. By honoring legacies and promoting education, these scholarships empower recipients to explore winter landscapes responsibly and confidently. Scholarships are open to all youth in our local forecasting area with parental consent.
Doug Abromeit Avalanche Scholarship
Every year the Friends of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center celebrates the work and life of Doug Abromeit (1948-2013) by starting the winter season with the Doug Abromeit Avalanche Scholarship. Doug was a native of Sandpoint, Idaho. The scholarship is intended to further avalanche education and awareness for those in our forecast region of North Idaho, Eastern Washington, and Western Montana.
What: The Scholarship will provide one recipient admission to a Level 1 Avalanche Course conducted by the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.
Who: Those interested in backcountry skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, mountaineering, or snowshoeing are the intended groups. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 24.
How: To apply, write an essay no longer than 400 words explaining why you should be selected to attend the Level 1 Avalanche Course and how you will use this education to promote avalanche awareness.
When: Essays must be submitted by December 6, 2024. Please include your name, age, mailing address and a phone number. Hardcopy essays can be mailed to:
Sandpoint Ranger District
Attn: Kevin Davis
1602 Ontario St.
Sandpoint, ID. 83864
Electronic versions, pdf or doc files please, can be emailed to kevin.davis2@usda.gov. The Scholarship winner will be announced mid-December. Winners will attend the Level 1 Avalanche Course in 2025. Dependents under the age of 18 will need written parental consent to attend.
To Donate: To donate to the Doug Abromeit Avalanche Scholarship make checks payable to the Friends of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (FIPAC), note that funds are for Abromeit Scholarship. Mail checks to:
Friends of IPAC
PO Box 405
Ponderay, ID. 83852