The Scholarships
BACKGROUND
Bindu was an incredibly valued community member and role model for many. He was known for his big heart and beyond generous character. Bindu never failed to lend a hand or give back to the people he loved. For several years, Bindu shared numerous laughs and smiles with VSSA and the rest of the community. At the same time, he was a fearless athlete who enjoyed even the most daunting challenges; his love for the mountains was unparalleled. After the loss of Bindu in 2018, the community came together to honor Bindu, with the Bindu Spirit Award. After several successful years, the Bindu Memorial Fund is pleased to add three new scholarships.
“Bindu was my social studies teacher for two years, he was a really special guy, a great man. He taught a lot, not necessarily from the text books, he just taught a lot in general … .”
Scholarship Submission Details
Submission Deadline: January 10, 2025
Bindu Spirit Award
Nick Cortens Community Member Award
Lily Connelly Female Athlete of the Year Award
Tony Siebert “Pardee On” Award
*more details below*
Part 1
Students applying to the scholarship should submit a video outlining the following:
Uploaded to Vimeo
Answer the questions below while implementing an edit/video of you participating in your sport.
What does it mean to you to be a part of our mountain community in the Eagle River Valley?
Tell us about your passion for your snowsport.
Define the meaning of stoke as it applies to you.
Describe what it would mean to you if you are awarded a scholarship.
Part 2
Written Submission: Financial need. This element is private (only reviewed by the Scholarship Committee and will not be shared). Do you currently receive financial assistance from Ski & Snowboard Club Vail? If yes, please provide supporting documentation (award letter from SSCV). Please write a short essay explaining your financial need and why you are pursuing this scholarship opportunity.
Submission Guidelines and Best Practices:
Create a video that addresses the five required prompts.
The video should be between 3-5 minutes.
We recommend practicing your responses before making your video, speaking clearly, and having a parent or friend film your responses if you need assistance.
It is also recommended to find creative ways to implement your sport videos with the speaking portions in order to create one compelling video.
Upload your downloadable video to Vimeo, and submit online @bspmemorial.com
Remember, your video will be shared, so you should feel confident in your submission and comfortable with it being viewed.
In the submission box below add the link to your vimeo video and financial aid essay as outlined in the form box.
*no videos will be shown at the Bindu event, only to application committee*
Scholarship Recipient Future Expectations
Volunteer to help with the annual Bindu 5K run in the year you are awarded your scholarship. The 5K is typically held during the end of May at Maloit Park.
Create a short video that will be sent to donors, thanking them for your award, and talking about how it helped you.
Be a steward of the Bindu events for years to come, by promoting them on social media and attending if/when you are in town.
Submit your application here: DEADLINE JANUARY 10, 2025
The Scholarships
The Bindu Spirit Award: awarded to the athlete that demonstrates passion for life that Bindu would admire.
Bindu was an incredibly valued community member and role model for many. He was known for his big heart and beyond generous character. Bindu never failed to lend a hand or give back to the people he loved. For several years, Bindu shared numerous laughs and smiles with VSSA and the rest of the community. At the same time, he was a fearless athlete who enjoyed even the most daunting challenges; his love for the mountains was unparalleled.
The Nick Courtens Community Member Award: awarded to the athlete that demonstrates care and stewardship of their community. Nick was a big mountain skier, a rafter, a prolific gardener, coach, friend and highly valued member of the Eagle Valley community. His community engagement is best captured by words from his father, Jean-Paul, ‘I love how he found a place here in Vail at Betty Ford where people recognized his qualities and allowed him to thrive. I want to thank you all for loving our boy the way we loved him’.
Lily Connelly Female Athlete of the Year: awarded to the female athlete that demonstrates outstanding athletics and community engagement.
Lily loved life and approached everyday with passion and joy, striving to make it a good day for her and for others around. She lived life fully and was constantly trying to be better. She poured her heart and soul into everything she did, whether it was big mountain skiing or pottery. She found something beautiful and creative in the mundane, and that energy permeated throughout everyone she touched.
The Tony Seibert "Pardee On" Award: awarded to the athlete who demonstrates a love for life in mountains.
It would be hard to find someone that loved skiing and life more than Tony Seibert. Tony started his skiing career at SSCV as a promising racer, and then found his true passion in the sport of Freeskiing. He was a fierce competitor in park and big mountain competitions. Tony was always going full send, whether he was jumping 15 feet out of the pipe, straight lining the Headwall at Crested Butte, or celebrating with his peers after a competition. Tony had a radiant smile and an infectious energy that inspired others around him to embrace life fully. Pardee was Tony's middle name, and now we say "Pardee On!" as a reminder to continue living with the same passion that Tony had every day.
