KILLINGTON − The Craftsbury Outdoor Center will receive the Bill McCollom Community Award as a Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee October 15 at Killington Resort.
Other inductees include Marty Hall, a trailblazer in North American cross-country skiing; Ned Hamilton, a ski industry retail entrepreneur; Harry “Rebel” Ryan, alpine ski racer and industry advocate and Hannah Teter, snowboard Olympian and philanthropist.
The Paul Robbins Journalism Award will go to Gary Black. The First Tracks Award will go to Noah Dines.
The award to the center will read: “The Craftsbury Outdoor Center, located in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, is a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable outdoor recreation, community engagement and environmental stewardship. Founded in the 1970s and transformed into a nonprofit in 2008 by Olympians Judy Geer and Dick Dreissigacker, the Center offers year-round programs in Nordic skiing, sculling, running, and mountain biking.
“Craftsbury provides free skiing and programming for local youth, supports athlete development from beginners to elites, and fosters lifelong participation in outdoor sports. It is also home to nationally recognized training programs for competitive skiers and biathletes.
“A leader in sustainability, the Center operates a net-zero energy lodge, uses solar-powered snowmaking, and models how recreation and environmental responsibility can thrive together.
“With its deep community roots and commitment to excellence, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center remains a cornerstone of Vermont’s outdoor and Nordic skiing culture.”
Since 2002, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame has recognized more than 80 people who have made snowsports history in the state. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor athletes, special contributors and pioneers of Vermont skiing and riding who promoted and/or contributed to their sports in Vermont; to document the histories of inductees in the museum’s collection, and to recognize their accomplishments through the induction ceremony. The Hall of Fame committee looks at candidates in three categories: athletes, pioneers, and special contributors.
