Snowvision Revives Historic Scholarship Opportunity

This year, The Snowvision Foundation, in conjunction with ABN AMRO Craigs and Mapei, has revived what was formerly known as the McKenzie Ski Scholarships - to nurture and help kick start today's young New Zealanders with ski talent and help them get to the top of the world in ski racing.

Snowvision and ABN AMRO Craigs have launched The Snowvision Mapei McKenzie Ski Talent Scholarships in Wellington in June at an event hosted by The Hon Trevor Mallard with Sir Roy McKenzie as the Guest of Honour.

The McKenzie Ski Scholarships were born from the funds raised by Sir Roy McKenzie, who in 1952 was part of New Zealand's first Winter Olympic Team. Whilst competing at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Olso, Sir Roy shot footage of the competitors in action. Using the funds raised from showing the film taken at these Olympics, Sir Roy provided a week of free ski race training to promising young skiers from 1953 - 1979.

Sir Roy McKenzie and ABN AMRO Craigs have generously provided The Snowvision Foundation with seed money, including funds, which will assist Snowvision to revive this scholarship programme.

Snowvision's co-founder and chief executive, Fiona Stevens says that the main objective of the scholarships is to identify and nurture young snow skiing talent in New Zealand.

"We want to see the value of these scholarships going to talented, young people to give them a start in the sport.

"Snowvision is thrilled to be able to provide opportunities to those who have the talent, but not necessarily the resources."

The Snowvision Foundation, in conjunction with Mapei will pay for the season long coaching fees up to the value of $2,500 per child in the appropriate Regional programme for those awarded scholarships. Snowvision aims to award 6 - 8 scholarships a year and will be based on the cost of the relevant training programme available and selected on a per season basis nationwide. Targeting 6 - 12 year olds, the first scholarships will be awarded at the Mapei Junior Races series starting at Mt Hutt on the 8th July.

"In addition to Sir Roy's and ABN AMRO Craigs original commitment to this initiative, we're delighted that Mapei will be the main sponsor partner for this scholarship programme, which means three additional scholarships will be added due to Mapei's generous support," said Stevens.

Scholarship Summary

The aim is to keep these scholarships simple, sought after and valued - to see the value actually going to the talented young people, to nurture and support them.

• To identify and nurture young snow skiing talent in New Zealand between the ages of 6 to 12 years old who have the raw talent.
• Expand the talent base beyond the current boundaries.
• Provide a reliable resource to help develop a bigger base of talent on the slopes around New Zealand.
• Provide independent resources and opportunities to those who have the talent but not necessarily the resources.

Scholarship Format

• The Snowvision Foundation in conjunction with Mapei will pay for the season long coaching fees in the appropriate Regional programme for those awarded scholarships. The scholarships will be based on the cost of the relevant training programme available and selected on a per season basis.
• The maximum amount that will be paid out on any one scholarship will be $2,500 per recipient per season.
• Funds must be used only to pay the Region for a child's coaching fees or as approved in writing by Snowvision. The money will go to the regional organisation and not directly to the child, with the Region providing the training programme agreed for each recipient.
• It is intended that recipients must be New Zealanders.
• Aim to incorporate monitoring and assessment of recipients into the scholarships, with some feedback on progress by coaches mid and end of season.
• We aim to keep a balance with a regional spread of scholarships nationally.
• We aim to have an even split between male and female recipients, but the overriding driver will be talent/merit based.

• The aim is to award two scholarships at each one of the Mapei NZ Mixed Age Junior Ski Races, with a total of 6 scholarships from the 3 Mapei Junior Races to be awarded annually.
• In the first year we aim to award and implement two 2006 scholarships for training fees at the two July Mapei races. The others will be awarded in 2006 for implementation in 2007 season.
• Every child who enters this race has the chance to win. It will be the only place where scholarships will definitely be awarded.
• The balance of the selection will be done throughout the New Zealand season and will be for 2007.
• The awarding of the scholarships will be at the discretion of Snowvision and Mapei. The extent and duration of the entire programme and any season will always be dependent on funds available, and everything is at the ultimate discretion of Snowvision.

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