6.24 - [RELEASE] USCSA Announces Annual Award Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Sullivan

LauraSullivan@uscsa.com

CUMMINGTON, Massachusetts. – JUNE 24th, 2015. The U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) is excited to announce the winners of several annual awards, including Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and the Keystone Award.

Coach of the Year:

The USCSA Coach of the Year is presented to the coach who, during the past season, has exemplified the qualities of a great coach in every sense of the position. For 2015, the USCSA Coach of the Year was awarded to Branko Zagar, Head Alpine Coach for Sierra Nevada College.

Coaching the Sierra Nevada Eagles since 2006, Coach Zagar fielded one of the most successful teams in USCSA history in 2015. Not only did both Sierra Nevada’s men’s and women’s alpine teams take home the combined USCSA National Championships, but both teams also won slalom and giant slalom titles. These titles were not won without challenges, however. On several days, Coach Zagar found his team trailing after the first run, but with his solid coaching and emphasis on team performance, the Eagles came out ahead after every second run.

“It is a great honor for me to receive USCSA coach of the year award,” said Coach Zagar. “It gives me and my teams extra recognition for all the hard work that we are putting into these programs here at SNC.” Laura Sullivan, Executive Director for USCSA, emphasized the importance of this award by adding that, "the success of the Sierra Nevada Ski Team is due to a recipe of winning talent guided by the integrity, skill and consistent leadership of Branko Zagar. It is with great respect to bestow the 2015 USCSA Coach of the Year Award to an individual who defines the profession." 

Volunteer of the Year

Every year, the USCSA relies on hundreds of volunteers to make the regular season and National Championship competitions successful. Although every one of these individuals are critical to the organization,  occasionally one volunteer will go above and beyond others to enhance the USCSA experience for athletes and fans. This year, the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Katie Whittier. 

Katie began her involvement with USCSA as a competitor for Worcester Polytechnic Institute while in college and immediately began volunteering with her team, conference, and the national organization. A fixture at every USCSA National Championship event since 2010, Katie’s knowledge about snowsport competition, event management, and leadership abilities are integral to the success of the event. Every year, she is relied upon to lead and help train volunteers new to the organization about the many aspects that make the USCSA National Championships what they are today.

On winning the award, Katie said, "It is an honor to receive USCSA's Volunteer of the Year award. There are so many volunteers across the U.S. that dedicate a lot of time and effort in order to make the USCSA National Championships a success each year. I look forward to contributing to next year's event in Lake Placid!" 

“Katie’s involvement in the USCSA has been instrumental in our success and this recognition is just a small token of our appreciation. Upon taking over as President of the organization, one of the first calls that I made was to Katie, to make sure that she was on-board for our Championship event that year. Of course her answer was Yes,” added Andy Rangen, President of USCSA.

Keystone Award

The USCSA Keystone Award is given by the USCSA President to honor an individual who has assisted the President in the operations of the organization. Going beyond the role of a volunteer, this person helps to ensure the delivery of the best service possible to the organization and its membership. The 2015 Keystone Award was presented to Jay Moyer

Jay has been involved with USCSA as a volunteer, coach, and competitor since 2004. Recently he has taken an active role in the media relations for USCSA, helping to create press releases and answering press inquiries. He also has taken on the task of increasing the amount of sponsorship revenue the organization takes in, helping to ensure the live broadcasts continue at the highest quality possible. 

“I am humbled and honored to be the recipient of the Keystone Award. USCSA has made a huge impact on my life, and it is a privilege to work with so many talented individuals to continue this organization’s mission,” said Jay Moyer. “Over the past year, Jay has really stepped into many roles that we needed, to continue to move our organization forward. The best part about what Jay has brought to the table, is that he can just run with things and I know that he’s going to put forward the effort and quality product, without needing a lot of guidance. Our organization values leadership like this,” said Andy Rangen, President of USCSA..

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Laura Sullivan at LauraSullivan@uscsa.com