MARCH E-SPILLWAY NEWSLETTER |
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CVA Student-Athletes Head to Junior Worlds |
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Seven CVA Snowboard and Ski Cross student-athletes have been invited to compete in the 2023 FIS Junior World Championships this month. The Junior World Championships give hundreds of elite athletes, across all FIS Olympic disciplines, their first taste of competing on the global stage for a World Championship medal.
CVA student-athletes Sullivan Butler '24, Morgan Shute '25, and Maggie Swain '24, along with alumni Tyler Currier '22 and Eli Derrick '20, were invited to represent the U.S., and Francois Meloni '23 was invited to represent Belgium for Ski Cross March 25-28 in San Pellegrino, Italy.
Sasha Jansujwicz '23 and Taggert Carr '24 will represent the U.S. in Alpine Snowboard March 22-27 in Bansko, Bugaria. Boden Gerry '24 will represent the U.S. in Snowboard Cross March 28-31 in San Pellegrino, Italy.
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The entire CVA community is so proud of these athletes for this amazing accomplishment! |
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CVA & THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS |
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After a three year pause due to COVID, the CVA community welcomed our friends from Special Olympics Maine back to Sugarloaf for a special on-snow training day in February. CVA students, coaches, and teachers spent the day working one-on-one with athletes, providing alpine and snowshoe training.
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CVA volunteers also set up race courses, provided timing, served up hot cocoa and cookies, ran the ceremony, and gave lots of encouragement to the Special Olympians. Thank you to the CVA National Honor Society for their help in organizing this special day.
For more than 30 years, CVA's involvement with Maine Special Olympics has been one of our most meaningful traditions. Many hands and hearts made for a smooth, enriching, fun, and safe day. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this special event!
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Dionis has been recognized by her teachers for her creativity, her insightful contributions to class and her work, and for her top notch homework. Keep up the good work Dionis. We are proud of you! |
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Owen has made a lot of progress this year. His good attitude and steady effort during athletics has been paying off. He’s had an incredible season so far, consistently placing 1st at his USASA events. Owen’s commitment to his sport is contagious. He recently volunteered to lead a candidate around campus and did a great job. Thank you, Owen. Keep up the great work both on, and off, the hill! |
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Community Member of the Month |
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It takes a selfless attitude and quick thinking to really make a difference in someone’s life. Kohen did just that when his team van came upon a motor vehicle accident. Kohen leapt to assist the motorist, likely saving him from harm. Way to go, Kohen! |
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CVA students, parents, staff, and volunteers from the Sugarloaf Area Christian Ministry went door-to-door to collect non-perishable food items and cash donations for the Annual CVA Food Drive to support local families in need.
Fifteen teams collected 952 food items and over $2,400 in cash donations.
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In photo, left-right: Dahlia Saifee '23, Nya Wolfe '23, Emily Peck '25, Ruby Poland '23,
and Luna De La Vega '25. (missing from photo): Summer Saifee '23, Francois Meloni '23,
Dory Michaud '23, and Sasha Jansujwicz '23
CVA is dedicated to helping our students learn and live our community values of civility, respect, gratitude, and commitment. Throughout the month of February, the Peer Mentors collected notes about acts of kindness in our community, and shared them during the all-school meeting each day.
The notes were made into a paper kindness chain to be put on display as a reminder that kindness matters. Thank you to our peer mentors for living our mission and sharing it with the community.
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Mount Holyoke Independent Schools Fellowship |
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Congratulations to CVA teacher, Sierra Spader, for her acceptance into the Mount Holyoke College Independent Schools Fellowship (ISF) Program. The ISF is for aspiring and early career educators from partner schools who want to build their experience while getting their graduate degrees. CVA became a partner school of the ISF program this year.
"We are excited about this new partnership with Mount Holyoke," stated Karen Lanoue-Egan, CVA Director of Academics, "it will provide our teachers greater professional development opportunities and help CVA to recruit and train new teachers."
Sierra is a first-year teacher at CVA and a graduate of Whitman College. Over the next few years, she will teach Humanities and Math at CVA while earning her Master's degree at Mount Holyoke. She will have the support of mentors and coursework that is specific to working in independent schools, including learning how to develop curricula, effectively engage students and manage the classroom, be a good coach and advisor, and be a school leader.
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Mindfulness in the Classroom |
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Peter Taliaferro's Humanities class studied the literary piece "The Heart of the World," (an extraordinary true story of discovery and the search for the earthly and spiritual source of Shangri-La) and discussed how being present opens hidden doors.
The class finished the unit with a guided meditation led by founding members of Dharmata Maine, a Tibetan meditation center in Solon, Maine. The culmination of this process pushed the students to look even further inward, creating a personal mandala that represents their true center.
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In February, CVA Alpine athletes had the opportunity to meet with CVA alumna Kirsten Clark-Rickenbach '95, a world championship medalist and three time Olympian alpine ski racer. Kirsten shared stories from her days on the National team, on the World Cup circuit, and her days as a CVA student-athlete. The Big Dogs heard how she prepared herself mentally and physically for races, what drills were her favorite and least favorite, and which D'Ellie's sandwich is the best.
When asked about the most important things she learned while at CVA, Kirsten spoke of the time management skills and about the importance of having teammates in an individual sport. "The friends you make at CVA will sustain you forever," she said. Thank you Kirsten for inspiring the next generation of racers and leaders!
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In February, Sugarloaf was the host of the Eastern Cup Speed Series which consisted of Downhill and Super G events. The CVA Big Dogs exhibited their strength with eleven top ten placings. The highlight was first year FIS athlete Charlie Koenig ‘24 winning two of the three events in the second Downhill and following up with the win in Super G as well. Althea Noyes ‘23 had two top-5 and three top-10 results. Other CVA athletes placing in the top ten included Josie Alexander ‘23, Abby Byers ‘22, and Caleb Stefanakos ‘24. Josie and Caleb both had two top-10 finishes.
CVA athletes and the entire Eastern region are appreciative of the efforts by the Sugarloaf Competition Center staff, the volunteers from the Sugarloaf Ski Club, and support of Sugarloaf Mountain.
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CVA Mogul athlete, Kennedy Hicks '25, traveled to Vail, CO in February to participate in the National Brotherhood of Skiers' (NBS) 50th Summit, an annual fundraiser that brings together over 50 member clubs and thousands of supporters from across the United States and internationally for a week of winter sports fun.
The primary purpose of the Summit is to provide financial support to the NBS Olympic Scholarship Fund in pursuant of its mission to identify, develop and support athletes of color who will win Olympic and International winter sports competitions, representing the United States, and to increase participation in winter sports. Kennedy is a proud member of the NBS competition team.
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During the week Kennedy competed in the NBS Mogul Classic at Vail and the Copper Mountain Open with good results, met with other NBS team athletes, attended events to meet the sponsors and VIP members of NBS, participated in media interviews and photoshoots, and celebrated NBS' 50th Anniversary in style at a gala. She was also featured in an article in Ski Magazine.
"The community is so supportive and positive," said Hicks. "It was a fun two weeks and I'm excited for next year!"
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At the end of January, the CVA Backcountry team embarked on a 16 day trip to La Grave, France. This bi-annual tradition for the team began in the early 2000’s, allowing athletes to ski some of the biggest lift-accessed and backcountry terrain in the world, as well as experience a foreign culture.
Highlights from the trip included skiing with Glen Plake, steep skiing, an 8,000 vertical foot run to the village of Saint Christophe, touring through the backcountry, and skiing through tight couloirs.
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THE PODIUM PROJECT CELEBRATION |
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Join our ski community’s greatest supporters and champions from Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley Academy, Colby College, Sugarloaf Ski Club, and the University of Maine Farmington to celebrate the inaugural season of the Podium Project at Sugarloaf Mountain.
Sunday, March 26, 2023
10:30 am
Base of the CVA Colby T-Bar, in front of the Jean Luce Building
Peavy Crosscut
We invite you for a short speaking program, and to take a ride on the new
high-speed surface lift as we celebrate the season. Please follow the link below to register and for additional information.
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Congratulations to Drew Hooker '22 and Keegan Kilbride '14, who qualified to compete in the 2023 Winter Dew Tour at Copper Mountain, Colorado. From February 24-26, 2023, Copper Mountain resort hosted a flurry of men’s and women’s ski and snowboard competitions. More than 60 of the world’s top athletes competed in Superpipe and Super Streetstyle. |
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Congratulations to CVA alumni Sam D. Morse '13 on his 14th place finish in the Stifel America's Downhill in Aspen earlier this month. The CVA community is so proud of you, Sam!
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Fun times were had by all at this year's McKay/Waddle Scholarship Race. This is an annual family-friendly event for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. All registration fees collected directly benefit the Dan McKay/Mike Waddle Fund which was established to help young, local athletes with their travel expenses to out of region competitions. |
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On February 25th, CVA held its annual Scholarship Bash. This year the Après Ski Event and evening Bash were 80s-themed, with many getting into the spirit.
Thank you to everyone who supported the CVA Scholarship Fund. It is your support that turns the dreams of CVA student-athletes into realities.
Whether you sponsored the event, raised your paddle, purchased a raffle ticket, attended the event, or bid in the auction - we are so grateful for your support! Thank you to to all who donated auction items and gift certificates in support of the CVA Scholarship Fund.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors! |
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Pine Capital creates and manages customized investment portfolios for individuals, family groups, and large institutions.
CVA alumnus, Chris Lorenz '89, is the Pine Capital President and Portfolio Manager, based out of Portland, Maine.
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Congratulations to Kelsey Brooks, the winner of the $10,000 raffle grand prize! |
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The Scholarship Bash Committee would like to thank everyone who supported this year’s event by hosting a complimentary Après-ski event. We hope you can join us!
Après Ski Party
Saturday, March 25th
2:30 - 4:00 PM
The Bill & Joan Alfond Competition Center
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3197 Carrabassett Drive
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
Phone: (207) 237-2250
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