Burke Mountain Academy, VT, Announces $30 Million โ€œChasing Greatness: Win from Withinโ€ Campaign

Gregg Frantz | | Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry News
Head of School Willy Booker discusses the Chasing Greatness campaign during a lunch event in NYC. Photo Credit: Burke Mountain Academy

The process of becoming a professional skier is not easy and it takes years of training and dedication to become one of the great ones. New England is home to many ski schools and Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont is known worldwide as being one of the best for producing great skiers. It is not easy being one of the best in the world and keeping a school like BMA competitive takes resources and money.

BMA has officially launched its $30 million โ€œChasing Greatness: Win from Withinโ€ campaign. This transformative endeavor represents BMAโ€™s most ambitious undertaking yet and a bold vision to redefine whatโ€™s possible for alpine ski racing development and education. The goal is for BMA to be the best school and athletic development program that it can be.

Since its founding in 1970, BMA has upheld a commitment to championing ski racers chasing greatness. The campaign will empower BMA to elevate this longstanding mission through innovative programming, facilities upgrades, and academic resources. However, expanding access to BMA through increased financial assistance by significantly growing its endowment is the campaignโ€™s primary focus and top priority in garnering support.

โ€œFor over 50 years, Burke Mountain Academy has stayed true to its calling of helping students define their values and instilling the work ethic and resilience necessary to find the greatness that exists within themselves so they may lead personally meaningful lives,โ€ Head of School Willy Booker said. โ€œThe Chasing Greatness Campaign is our chance to honor that commitment while raising the bar on the total student experience. This is Burkeโ€™s defining moment to truly reshape whatโ€™s possible for every student.โ€

The Ronnie Berlack Center (RBC) stands as Burke Mountain Academyโ€™s state-of-the-art indoor training facility, earning recognition as a U.S. Ski Team High Performance Center in 2019. Photo Credit: Burke Mountain Academy.
The Ronnie Berlack Center at Burke Mountain Academy. Photo Credit: ART Architects

Key priorities and initiatives made possible by the $30 million campaign include:

  • Significantly growing BMAโ€™s endowment to provide financial aid and increased accessibility
  • Investing in campus facilities, academic resources, and professional development
  • Lowering the cost of Junior Program Participation
  • Expanding European programs and partnerships

With approximately $20 million already secured from BMAโ€™s Board of Trustees, alumni, and key supporters, the campaign has gained tremendous initial momentum. This investment will allow BMA to uphold its standing as the leading institution for developing world-class ski racers while opening doors for talented student-athletes from all backgrounds.

Mikaela Shiffrin and Burke Mountain Academy Graduate celebrates on podium after finishing second in an alpine ski, womenโ€™s World Cup slalom in Flachau, Austria, Jan.10, 2023. Photo Credit: Giovanni Auletta / Associated Press

Burke Mountain Academy was founded in 1970 and is a coed boarding school for elite ski racers in East Burke, Vermont. BMAโ€™s student body consists of 64 students from grades 9-12. BMA is the first ski academy of its kind, yielding more than 154 National Ski Team members and 37 Olympians and earning the reputation as one of the top ski academies in the world. Burke Mountain Academy graduates include athletes such as Mikaela Shiffrin โ€™14, Nina Oโ€™Brien โ€™15, and Britt Richardson โ€™21.

For more information visit Burke Mountain Academyโ€™s website.


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