Scholarships

Far West Scholarships

The Far West Scholarships are currently closed, check back next year.

The Marce Herz Foundation is pleased to offer two ski racing scholarships for the current race season. There will be two (2) scholarships for Far West athletes (one to a female and to a male athlete) at $1,000 each, awarded for the 23/24 race season by the Marce Herz Foundation. Instructions on how to submit applications may be found here. Scholarship recipients will be showcased on the Marce Herz website.

Far West Scholarships

Congrats to our 2023 Far West Scholarship winners!

Brody Mitchell

Brody Mitchell is a U16 athlete for Team Palisades Tahoe. As his interest and dedication to ski racing has grown into a year round sport for, he devotes the majority of his time to training for skiing through dryland training, off season camps, and training five days a week throughout the winter while still participating in other sports at his school. When he was able to get a job, he spent most of the summer working instead of hanging out with friends, which helped pay for an unplanned camp in Saas Fee, Switzerland. Brody’s coach said Brody is a great teammate, always supportive of his competitors, win or lose. His teacher let us know that he takes his schoolwork seriously, is respectful and kind to his teachers, and does his job at school. Using his time wisely on campus allows him to excel at the athletics he is passionate about.

Brody’s ski racing accomplishments include qualifying third for Whistler Cup where he got 5th in the Slalom, 10th in the GS, and 3rd in the team relay. He was part of the three boy three girl team USA to win the Nations Cup at Whistler. We are proud to sponsor Brody and wish him the best for his 23/24 race season.

Maren Paidakovich

Maren is a first year U16 on the Diamond Peak Ski team. Maren states that for her, ski racing is an exciting sport from the suspense of the start gate to crossing the finish line. There is a feeling of accomplishment after finishing a race, highlighting what you’ve learned and what you can improve upon, and then looking forward to the next run. Ski racing is not only about strength, but it is also the process of putting the puzzle pieces together of technicality, tactics, and mentality. Although ski racing is considered an individual sport, Maren appreciates that she is also a part of a team, which makes the sport more fun. In middle school Maren was active in Leadership, which culminated in a student outreach event at Truckee Meadows Community College where the Leadership students connected with other students from across the county. It was a good experience for her. Maren’s coach says Maren is coachable! She takes feedback from all coaches in a positive light and applies what she hears

to her skiing, almost immediately. She believes and trusts her coaches.

Maren qualified for the 2023 U14 Western Regional race last season and achieved multiple top ten placements in the Far West Division. The March Herz Foundation is proud to sponsor Maren and wish her the best for the 23/24 race season.

Congrats to our 2022 Far West Scholarship winners!

Congratulations to Bobbi Griffin and Jake Brown, who were selected as this season's Marce Herz Far West Skiing Scholarship recipients. We felt they best exemplified the Foundation and were the embodiment of Marce’s ideals of dedication, self-discipline and integrity. These athletes display these characteristics in their lives, education, and their ambitious athletic goals. The Marce Herz Foundation is proud to help these athletes achieve their goals and to be a part of their season. 

BOBBI GRIFFIN

Bobbi is a U18 FIS athlete with Team Palisades.

Tahoe. Bobbi’s coach says “She has been a great teammate to all the other athletes in our program/division and has always been supportive of her competitors, win or lose.”  Her High School Principal let us know that Bobbi knows the importance of learning and strives to be a person who can be successful in many areas of life including academic life, school life, and ski life. 

Bobbi told us that she is very dedicated to the sport of ski racing stating: I wake up earlier than most everyone else because I have to feed my animals including horses, cattle, lambs, chickens, and dogs. I train hard, get to the course earlier than others, try to get in an extra run in the course. I also love to have fun free skiing when training is over. It is so important to be with teammates and also with my mom.

Bobbi has placed in the top 10 in over ten races during the 2021/2022 season.  We wish Bobbi great success also during this 2022/2023 season.

JAKE BROWN

Jake is a fist year U18 athlete with the Mt. Rose Ski Team.

Jake learned to ski and started his race career at Sky Tavern.  He moved to the Mt. Rose Ski Team to race in more Far West races.  Jake loves skiing because it makes him feel free. He told us “On a racecourse or in training I get the opportunity to try and always better myself with my times and my skiing ability.” Jakes goal this year with racing is to improve my current point standings and start to race at the FIS level. He says has a lot of work to put in to get this goal, but he believes he can reach that goal because of the support I have with my team and my family. 

Jake’s former Assistant Principal mentioned the most impressive thing about Jake is his ability to continue to overcome challenges, develop appropriate and positive friendships and stay focused on his goals. She saw Jake light up when he talked about skiing. Jake’s coach said “Jake has become a team leader. Always early to training and ready to go, Jake shows his teammates what is expected to work toward their goals.”

Jake quoted Bodie Miller who said “ski racing is a marathon and that most leave before they get great.” Jake went on to say this is the start of my marathon and I look forward to what my future holds.  We wish Jake the best in 2022/2023 season.

Congrats to our 2021 Far West Scholarship winners!

Congratulations to Savannah Taylor and Ryan Herhusky, who were selected as this season's Marce Herz Far West Skiing Scholarship recipients. We felt they best exemplified the Foundation and were the embodiment of Marce’s ideals of dedication, self-discipline and integrity. These athletes display these characteristics in their lives, education, and their ambitious athletic goals. The Marce Herz Foundation is proud to help these athletes achieve their goals and to be a part of their season. 

Ryan Herhusky

Ryan is a 2nd year U19 FIS athlete with the Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy.

Ryan is described as one that "displays a desire to be a life-long learner; he exhibits supportive and empathetic behaviour in group settings and rarely focuses on himself for very long; he shows gratitude at every turn and shows respect to teammates, mentors and competitors alike," says coach Brad Saxe. His academic advisor and former U16 coach Andrew Becker states, "he is an incredibly hard worker, is dedicated to doing his best in everything that he starts, and has the ability to maintain focus and perform under pressure to a higher degree than most athletes."

Ryan states, "He loves how unpredictable ski racing is and how it keeps you challenged at every turn." His goals are to lower his Slalom Rank, qualify for US Nationals again and to be selected for a good college team and race NCAA while continuing to try and make the National Team.