Utah to Receive 2022 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Collegiate Impact Award

12/1/2022 10:00 AM | Skiing

Recognition to take place as part of the Team USA Collegiate Recognition Awards celebration

SALT LAKE CITY and LAS VEGAS – U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced on Thursday that the University of Utah will be honored with the 2022 Collegiate Impact Award. The award recognizes the top-contributing school on the 2022 U.S. Olympic Ski Team in Beijing.

Utah had six current and former Utes represent the United States in alpine and cross-country skiing during the 2022 Winter Olympics, more than any other university. The group was part of a program-record 12 athletes with a Utah connection to qualify for the Games in either alpine or cross-country skiing.

All told, six nations had a current or former Ute on their roster during the 2022 Winter Olympics. The group included Tomas Birkner (Argentina), Kevin Bolger (United States), Keely Cashman (United States), Snorri Einarsson (Iceland), Madison Hoffman (Australia), Luke Jager (United States), Sophia Laukli (United States), Mo Lebel (United States), Novie McCabe (United States), Katie Parker (Australia), Roni Remme (Canada) and Katie Vesterstein (Estonia).

"It's an incredible honor for our program to be recognized with the Collegiate Impact Award," said Utah director of skiing Fredrik Landstedt. "We were thrilled to watch 12 of our current and former athletes reach the Winter Olympics, including six with the United States, and have former Ute Nick Hendrickson serve as the U.S. Nordic combined head coach. It's another testament to the tireless commitment of our athletes and coaches over the years. We're very grateful to receive this award."

Utah will be officially presented the honor during the Team USA Collegiate Recognition Awards in Las Vegas on Dec. 6, 2022. Director of Athletics Mark Harlan will accept the award on behalf of the Utes. The Team USA Collegiate Recognition Awards event runs in conjunction with the National Football Foundation's 64th Annual Awards celebration.

"Being a collegiate athlete is an incredible feat. Athletes learn how to balance academics and sport while competing for their team, which are crucial skills to both the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team and Team USA," said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. "We are thrilled to present the University of Utah with the 2022 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Collegiate Impact Award, and thank them for being such an important part of our sports. We look forward to seeing what our mutual athletes can accomplish next!"

At the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, 16 U.S. Olympians on the alpine and cross-country ski teams competed collegiately. Entering 2023, current members of the Utah Ski Team who also are part of the U.S. Ski Team include Walker Hall, Jager, Laukli, McCabe and Sydney Palmer-Leger.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard joins seven other National Governing Bodies that will participate in this year's Team USA Collegiate Recognition Awards – a celebration that will honor sport-specific contributors (NGB Collegiate Impact Awards) and overall Team USA contributors (Team USA Collegiate Impact Awards) to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

More information about the Team USA Collegiate Recognition Awards – and about Team USA's collegiate footprint in Beijing – can be found online at TeamUSA.org/CollegiateImpact.

Follow the Utes on social media (@utahskiteam).