The Johnny Soderstrom Memorial Scholarship encourages young mountain enthusiasts to acquire avalanche education in order to improve decision making and increase their level of safety and awareness in the backcountry.
We are excited to offer scholarship opportunities for avalanche education programs. Applicants must be Alaskan residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. This scholarship was founded to honor Johnny Soderstrom, who was a prolific and well-respected climber, and aims to provide avalanche education to local youth who share the passion he embodied for skiing and climbing. Each scholarship will provide partial tuition for a recreational avalanche course during the 2026/2027 winter season.
The Dylan Lenzie Memorial Scholarship honors Dylan’s commitment to avalanche safety and love for Hatcher Pass by providing an annual scholarship for aspiring avalanche professionals to take a professional-level course.
Applicants must be Alaskan residents. One scholarship recipient will be chosen annually to receive full tuition for a Pro 1 avalanche course.
