Here is a very brief review of the National awards. (The complete and official descriptions can be found in NSP Policies and Procedures Manual, Chapter 10 Awards Program^*, and in Chapter 8, The Ski Patroller's Manual, Fourteenth Edition.)

^*This link brings you directly to the NSP On-line Member Services log-in screen. After logging in, choose My Bookshelf, then Policies & Procedures from the Reference & Resource Materials section.

The NSP recognizes three types of awards or insignia:

• those that recognize meritorious service
• those that identify patrollers with outstanding ability or special skills
• those that are awarded to members or non-members for distinguished service to the NSP and to the sport of skiing.

• 10.1 NSP Awards......pg111
• 10.2 Appointments (National and Leadership Commendation)......pg111
• 10.3 Distinguished Service Award......pg112
• 10.4 Meritorious Service Award......pg113
• 10.5 Merit Stars......pg113
• 10.6 Patroller's Cross......pg115
• 10.7 National Outstanding Awards......pg115
• 10.8 National Recognition Awards......pg119
• 10.9 Service Recognition Award......pg121
• 10.10 Honorary Awards......pg122
• 10.11 Awards Coordinator/Advisor Job Descriptions......pg122
• 10.12 Awards Forms......pg122
• 10.13 Award Rejection/Appeal Process......pg122

National Appointment & Leadership Commendation Appointment

Nominee must have:

1. a minimum of eight ski seasons as an active member of the NSP (A minimum of one year as a Senior Alpine/Nordic for the National Appointment; a minimum of one year as Senior Auxiliary for the Leadership Commendation Appointment.)
2. demonstrated leadership that benefits the NSP:
   • serving beyond the patrol level, or
   • serving two or more ski seasons as a certified instructor in a program that is beneficial to the NSP, or by
   • demonstrating exceptional performance as a patrol director/representative
3. demonstrated leadership abilities in working with the skiing public as related to skier safety education
4. never received the appointment before.

Distinguished Service Award

Extraordinary service to the NSP and the skiing public over a long period, distinguished by exceptional devotion to duty and outstanding performance; and may be presented to individuals not affiliated with the NSP for outstanding contributions to the organization.

Meritorious Service Award

Extraordinary and outstanding service and leadership as a Division or Region staff member. The Meritorious Service Award can be nominated only by Region and Division Directors.

 

Gold Merit Star

Awarded annually to the National Outstanding Alpine Ski Patroller, National Outstanding Nordic Ski Patroller, National Outstanding Student Ski Patroller, National Outstanding Professional Ski Patroller, National Outstanding Auxiliary Patroller, National Chairman's Outstanding Administrative Patroller, National U.S. Ski Patrol Outstanding Administrative Patroller, National Outstanding Instructor, National Outstanding Patrol Director, and the recipient of the Charles Minot "Minnie" Dole Award.

 

Silver Merit Star

Awarded annually to the runner-up to the recipient of the Gold Merit Star.

 

Purple Merit Star

Highest NSP meritorious service award and is given to members who individually save or are primarily responsible, in conjunction with others, for saving a human life...rendering emergency care to someone stricken by sudden illness or accident (auto, marine, snow, or any other type of accident)...regardless of where the lifesaving act was performed, provided the emergency care was rendered under the sole direction and sole responsibility of patrollers.

 

Blue Merit Star

Outstanding or heroic use of ski patrol skills in an attempt to save a human life, but whose efforts have not met the Purple Merit Star criteria. This award also may be presented to members for outstanding service in support roles associated with the Purple Merit Star.

 

Green Merit Star

Outstanding act of heroism that does not meet the lifesaving requirements of the Purple Merit Star. It is given for arduous and hazardous rescue work in which the recipient used ski patrol training, and also in air crash, avalanche, and mountain rescue situations, etc. in which the recipient used ski patrol training.

 

Yellow Merit Star

Outstanding act or service to the NSP. This award has a very broad interpretation and serves as a way of honoring deserving members for a variety of outstanding administrative accomplishments and also for outstanding service in support roles associated with the Purple, Blue, or Green Merit Star actions.

 

Central Division Critical Care Recognition Award

The Central Division Critcal Care Recognition Award is awarded for assessment and care using OEC training and skills that recognizes and treats a patient with a huge potential for life threatening injuries and illness. For the complete description, criteria, and certificate image click here.

Patroller's Cross

May be awarded, upon approval of the Division Director or designee, to a member who is seriously injured in one of the following categories: A) training or scheduled on-the-hill duty*; B) search and rescue activities*; C) avalanche control work*; D) lift evacuation*.
*under the direction of area management/recognized authority.

• Outstanding Alpine Ski Patrol Award
• Outstanding Nordic Ski Patrol Award
• Outstanding Alpine Ski Patroller Award
• Outstanding Nordic Ski Patroller Award
• Outstanding Student Ski Patroller Award
• Outstanding Professional Ski Patroller Award
• U.S. Ski Patrol Outstanding Administrative Ski Patroller Award
• National Chairman's Outstanding Administrative Ski Patroller Award
• Outstanding Auxiliary Patroller Award
• Outstanding Instructor Award
• Outstanding Patrol Director Award
• Outstanding Avalanche Award
• Charles Minot "Minnie" Dole Award

• Unit Citation Award
• National Certificate of Appreciation
• Service Recognition Award

Service Recognition Award

May be used to recognize members who have served the NSP 10 years or longer, in five-year increments: 10, 15, 20, etc.

• Honorary National Appointment
• Angel Pin
• Division or Region Certificate of Appreciation

• The BRAVO Award is for the Best Record of Activity in a Volunteer Organization. This award is an annual recognition to the patroller with the most hours of on-hill and patrol room duty, at each ski area.
• At the discretion of the Section Chief, the award can be given at the section level also.
• The award consists of a BRAVO Award Certificate to be presented at an appropriate time as determined by the Patrol Director or Section Chief.
• Requests for the certificates can be made through the Region Awards Advisor who should have the certificates in inventory.
• If the Section presents this award, a letter of nomination should be sent to the Section Chief, including the name, the Patrol, and the total hours of duty.

• The SAGE Award is a Special Award for Great Efforts and is presented to the oldest (in age) active patroller in the Patrol, Section, Region and Division. This award is to recognize and acknowledge the dedication of the recipient and act as an inspiration and example for others to follow.
• The qualifications for this award is that the nominee has at least three years of continuous active service in any classification and is currently active in actual "on hill" patrol duty and is the oldest (age wise) in that particular Patrol, Section, Region, or Division.
• Each Patrol recipient is then nominated for the Section level. The winner at Section shall be submitted to the Region and the Region winner to Division. Should any one of the levels not give this award, the nominee may be nominated to the next highest level.
• This award can only be received once by an individual and is retained until someone else is nominated who is older or if the individual no longer meets the qualifications. The minimum age for this award is 50 years old.
• The nomination should include the nominee's name, birth date, classification and Patrol.

• The idea of this award came about at the September, 1990 North Central Chapter Board of Directors meeting. The concept is to award a member of the Western Region for outstanding contribution to the National Ski Patrol System. The Western Region covers approximately the same geographic area as the North Central Chapter of the 10th Mountain Division Association.
• The Award is to be given annually to one qualified Western Region patroller. Two or three qualified candidates are to be selected by the Western Region Awards Committee and submit the nominations to a member of the North Central Chapter. The final selection will be made by the North Central Chapter Board of Directors, 10th Mountain Division Association.
• Requirements:
  1. Has been an active member of the NSP for a minimum of 20 years.
  2. A current member in good standing with the NSP - Active or Alumni.
  3. Has attained a National Appointment.
  4. Has been active throughout one's service with the NSP at Patrol, Section, Region, and/or Division and National levels as an officer or advisor.

Return to the Western Region Awards Page.