The Campion family partners with ICL Academy to support Idaho’s aspiring athletes

Natalie Gowe, FIS athlete on the SVSEF Alpine team, has been awarded the newly funded Campion Scholar Athletic Scholarship as an ICL Fellow. This commitment by the Campion family provides financial support for the entirety of Gowe’s academic education at online private school ICL Academy, plus team tuition and associated expenses for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 ski seasons.

“Our goal is to inspire others to provide similar opportunities for student athletes,” said Ashley Campion, President of The Johnson Charitable Trust. “We understand what it takes to support an athlete making a run at the top in a sport – it’s a heavy lift. It requires total devotion of time and energy from family, coaches, and friends. Our goal is to inspire others to award comprehensive scholarships including both academic and athletic expenses, giving more of Idaho’s aspiring athletes the opportunity to shoot for the moon.”

In Gowe’s second year as a member of the SVSEF Alpine U16 team during the 2021-22 divisional qualifiers, she brought home three victories and six podiums. From there, she represented the Western Region at the 2021-22 U16 National Championships in Sugarloaf, Maine, where she placed 6th in slalom.

Gowe has now also been named ICL Fellow through the Institute of Civic Leadership (ICL). The Campion Scholarship includes a two-year grant to fund her junior and senior year at ICL Academy – the premier online private school for high-performing athletes grades 6-12. “It takes a village to help an athlete get from good to great and we are so pleased to partner with SVSEF and ICL in this endeavor,” said Campion. The partnership with ICL grew from the shared belief that supporting an athlete both athletically and academically truly frees them to excel. ICL has long been championing athletes at top levels and the school’s innovative online Impact Learning model has attracted the support of numerous world champions, including Bode Miller and Andrew Weibrecht.

ICL Academy founder Kirk Spahn said, “We are proud to support student athletes, giving them the best possible shot at their dreams, while still providing the elite academics, high-excelling community, alumni network, leadership training, college and career consulting, even mentorship from ski champions like Bode Miller and Andrew Weibrecht that will help them be successful in college or pro sports, and in life. We thank the Campion family for recognizing that many underserved students need extra support to access the education and training needed to reach their highest potential. The ICL Foundation has been supporting students such as Natalie for 20 years and is thrilled to join forces with the Campion family and The Johnson Charitable Trust.”

“This is an incredible opportunity for Natalie to pursue her dreams in skiing while having educational support that can coexist with the demanding training, travel, and racing lifestyle that high-achieving ski racers need to maintain,” said Nate Schwing, SVSEF Alpine U16 Head Coach. “Having coached Natalie the last two seasons and witnessed her athletic, mental, and emotional growth, I’m excited to see where her journey takes her now with this inspiring support!”

“I was so surprised and honored to receive the Campion Scholarship along with being named an ICL Fellow,” said Natalie Gowe. “I am beyond grateful to the Campion family and ICL Academy for this amazing opportunity. Their belief in my pursuits academically and athletically is a strong testament to how they want to make a significant difference for ambitious student-athletes, while also inspiring others to do the same.”

“This is a game changing grant that sets in motion an incredible opportunity for an incredible young lady,” said Scott McGrew, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Executive Director. “Focusing support on the interface of education and sport is where young adults find their most solid footing. It is inspiring and we are excited and grateful to be a part of such an impactful project.”

About Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
Since its inception in 1966, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation has been a longstanding pillar in the community, providing snowsport programs and offering academic assistance to support student-athletes in reaching their highest potential. SVSEF offers an array of programs for athletes ages five and up, from learn-to-ski and ride through FIS and other national and international-level competition. The organization offers financial assistance to families, so that anyone who wishes to may participate. For more information, please visit svsef.org.

About ICL Academy
ICL ACADEMY is an innovative, accredited Online Private School for grades 6-12 that tailors academics to students’ passions through its award-winning Impact Learning model. ICL Academy unites 150 years of academic excellence from the Dwight School and 20 years of character & service leadership training from the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) non-profit in a mission to re-imagine online private education for high-performing student athletes. ICL’s online, college-like scheduling gives junior players more time to train, travel, and compete at the highest level in addition to all the benefits and prestige of a private prep school: elite academics, high-excelling peers, a global alumni network, award-winning character & service leadership training, customized college consulting and mentorship from world champions like Bode Miller & Andrew Weibrecht.

Photo of Natalie Gowe taken at the 2022 Western Region U16 Junior Championships in Big Sky, Montana.
Photographer: Marshall Tate/Crystal Images