Beginning this academic year, Sport Obermeyer will offer its sponsored athletes an Academic Incentive Program. Obermeyer athletes in grade school through college will now be able to participate and earn monetary rewards for exemplary performance in school as well as on the hill. Unlike any other initiatives in the snowsports industry, the AIP is focused on education and is being well received by athletes and parents alike.
President of Sport Obermeyer, Bill Post, conceived of the plan, because “balancing a demanding course load with event obligations is often difficult for the student athlete, with some choosing sports at the expense of their schooling. The AIP offers a way to promote achievement in school as well as active participation on the mountain.”
An example of Obermeyers deep commitment to the snowsports industry and community, the AIP is based on the very philosophy that keeps Sport Obermeyer strong and successful. Hard work, integrity and passion for winter sports drive the business as well as ideas like the AIP. Athletes, the company and the community all benefit from the program, creating a win-win; a virtual home run for everyone.
As a new Team O sponsored athlete, Ashley Battersby will qualify for the AIP this fall. Her father, Bill Battersby, had nothing but high praise to offer. “I have to applaud Sport Obermeyer for creating this program. This is a great idea and truly speaks volumes about Obermeyer as a company.”
To qualify for the program, each sponsored athlete must sign an Athlete Academic Agreement and submit his or her grades at the end of each semester. Incentives are tiered according to grade point average, 3.0 up to 3.9 or higher, in Grade and Middle School, High School and University/College categories. The maximum reward for a college level student athlete at a 3.9 GPA or better is $500. All enrolled students must maintain a full course load, but can mix traditional with online courses to qualify.
Sport Obermeyer hopes the Academic Incentive Program will continue well into the future and serve as a model for others in the industry.
