Avalanche Education Scholarships in the San Juan Mountains

The Peter Inglis Avalanche Education Fund (PI Fund) provides avalanche education scholarships to local community members in an effort to increase avalanche awareness and backcountry safety by decreasing the financial burden of taking an avalanche course. 

The PI Fund awards funding to worthy scholarship recipients as a partial tuition reimbursement AFTER they have successfully completed their course.

Updates for the 2023-2024 Season: 

• This year, there are two scholarship categories:
• General scholarship: 50%-100% of course cost (or less, if requested by applicant)
• BIPOC Scholarship: 100% of course cost (1 available, must identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color)
• Applications will now be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the winter, with application review and scholarship decisions made at the end of each month.
• If the application form is open, that means we are still accepting applications for the current winter season.
• The primary review criteria for receiving a full-ride scholarship will be demonstrated need and the quality of application responses.
• Applicants must submit their scholarship application BEFORE they complete their avalanche course. Scholarships will not be awarded retroactively.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2023-2024 SEASON!
APPLY FOR A PI FUND SCHOLARSHIP HERE!

Who is eligible to apply?

• All ages and experience levels are welcome to apply.
• Applicants must live in San Miguel, San Juan, Ouray, Dolores, or Montrose counties. For those who live in the southern San Juans, check out the Know the Snow Fund for avalanche education scholarships (www.knowthesnowfund.org).

How does it work?

• First, applicants will find an avalanche course of their choosing.
• Then, applicants will fill out and submit the scholarship application, demonstrating their financial need and desire for education, before the course.
• The PI Fund will review scholarship applications monthly and notify applicants about their scholarship award status by the end of each month.
• Ideally, applicants will know whether or not they have received a scholarship before they complete their course.
• Scholarship funds will be sent to recipients as a partial or full reimbursement after they have successfully completed their course.
• We require a certificate of completion from the course to be emailed to piavalanchefund@gmail.com for funding to be awarded.

Questions? Feel free to email us at piavalanchefund@gmail.com!

Past Scholarship Assistance

2022-2023: The PI Avy Fund awarded $3,300 in scholarships to 7 individuals for avalanche education courses. Scholarships were given for companion rescue courses, Avy 1 courses, Avy 2 courses, and Pro 1 Courses.

2021-2022: The PI Avy Fund awarded $2,310 in scholarships to 9 individuals for avalanche education courses. Scholarships were given for companion rescue courses, Avy 1 courses and Avy 2 courses.

2020-2021: The PI Avy Fund awarded $2,600 in scholarships to 15 individuals for avalanche education courses. Scholarships were given for companion rescue courses, Avy 1 courses and Avy 2 courses.

2019-2020: The PI Avy Fund awarded $3,000 in scholarships to 17 individuals for avalanche education courses. Scholarships were given for companion rescue courses, Avy 1 courses and Avy 2 courses.

2018-2019: The PI Avy Fund awarded $3,160 in scholarships to 20 individuals for avalanche education courses. Scholarships were given for companion rescue courses, Avy 1 courses and Pro 1 Avy Courses.