Eastern Division Awards

William J. Gross Memorial First Aid Trophy

  • Recipients of a Purple Merit Star for the 12 months preceding March 1 are considered for the award by a Division Jury appointed by the Division Awards Advisor.
The William J. Gross Memorial First Aid Trophy was established in 1967 as a memorial to Bill Gross, former leader of the Metropolitan NYC Patrol.  It is awarded each year to the Patroller in the Eastern Division performing the most outstanding feat of first aid on or off the slopes, whether it involves lifesaving or not.

The 2019 winner(s) were: Deborah Whalen GV / Skip Millor GV / Brian Denley ME 

Eastern Division Honor Awards

​These awards are appointed at the discretion of the Division Director each year and presented at the annual Spring Officers’ Meeting.

Jerry Sherman Outstanding Division Patroller Award

  • Awarded for outstanding service to or within the Division
  • Is not necessarily awarded every year.
Past Division Director and member of the Hall of Fame, Jerry joined the NSP in 1978.  He served as Patrol Director, Region Director Assistant Division Director, Division Director/NSP Board Member, Division and National Awards’ Coordinator.  He is a past member of the Brantling Ski patrol, a current Paid Patroller at Bristol Mountain, and a Volunteer Patroller at Hunt Hollow, all in the Genesee Valley Region.  During his tenure as division Director, he asked several outstanding and highly respected members to study and make recommendations for change to the governance model.  The end result of two distinguished committees, one led by Rick Andriole from Western Massachusetts, and the other by Rick Hamlin from Northern Vermont, is our current structure.  Rich Hamlin then took the structure to the National Level.  The “One Patroller one Vote” privileges that we now enjoy are a direct result of those committees.

Past recipients:
2005 Bill Halsey
2010 Bela L. Musits
2015 Robert Andre
2006 Robert Scarlett
2011 Al Pels
2016 Deb Foss
2007 Jeff Barcus
2012 Terry Randolph
2017 Paul Tracy
2008 Donna McGraw
2013 Craig Lawson
2018 Joseph Kulina
2009 David Walker
2014 John Beach
2019 Paul Kling

Roger Damon Avalanche Award

  • Awarded for outstanding service to or within the Division’s avalanche program.
  • Nominees must be recommended by the Division Avalanche Instructor Group and approved by the Division Director and the Division Awards’ Advisor.
  • Nominations are due to the above by April 1 each year.
  • Is not necessarily awarded every year.
​Roger Damon, a member of the Mt. Washington Ski Patrol joined the NSP in 1947.  He received National Appointment #2835 in 1965.  He has been a leader in Avalanche Education in the Eastern Division and the NSP for his entire Patrol career.

The 2019 winners was: Linda Helms NVT

Donna McGraw Patroller for Patrollers Award

  • Awarded for a patroller that has made an outstanding contribution to the Eastern Division and /or the National Ski Patrol.
Donna McGraw joined the NSP in 1970 and served the Eastern Division as Administrator and Registration guru for over 37 years.  When one wrote, called or emailed the Eastern Division Ski Patrol, Donna was always the happy voice that answered.  She acted as Secretary for Division Annual meetings and all the meetings of the Division Board of Directors.  She communicated with and supported the Division Director, the Division Board, Division Advisors and the National Office in Lakewood, CO.  She truly has always been a Patroller for Patrollers.

Past Recipients:
2005 Pete Snyder
2010 Jerry McGraw
2015 John S. Tuttle
2006 Ron Splittgeber
2011 Robert Scarlett
2016 William Cline
2007 Bill Boulter
2012 Bob Bluff
2017 Hugh Blocker
2008 Bill Gamble
2013 Burt Mitchell III
2018 Dick Wolf
2009 Guy Lombardo
2014 Laura Tucker
2019 Gerald Hyson

990 Award

This award is presented annually to one Patroller that has been significantly helpful that year by helping take a load off the Division Director’s back.  It was started in 1989 by John Clair.
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The 2019 winner was: Orest Ohar

501c3 Award

This award is presented annually to one Patroller who is recognized by the Treasurer and the Financial Advisor as having provided outstanding service in the area of finance. It was started in 2010 by John Shipman.​

​The 2019 winner was: Denice Kaus

Eastern Division Award Histories

Pete Snyder Outstanding Nordic Patroller Award

Pete Snyder joined the NSP in 1953 and is an alumni member of the Upper Delaware Nordic and Tanglewood Alpine Patrols in EPA.  He earned his Senior status as both a Nordic and Alpine Patroller.  A long time Division Nordic Advisor, Pete also served as an Instructor Trainer for OEC, Mountain Travel and Rescue, and Nordic Ski and Toboggan.  In 2017, Pete Snyder was inducted as a member of the NSP Hall of Fame.

The 2019 winner was: Melinda Mingus CT

George Wesson Jr. Outstanding Paid Patroller Award

The late George F. Wesson Jr. was an original member of the NSP, joining in 1938.  He also served in the 10th Mountain Division.  George was one of the founders of the NSP Certified Program, and during his NSP career served as Patrol Director at Mount Mansfield, Sugarbush, Thunder Mountain, and Killington.  At the time of his death, he was among NSP’s oldest and most honored members.  In 2016, George F. Wesson Jr. was inducted as a member of the NSP’s Hall of Fame.
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The 2019 winner was: John Doremus EPA

Mary M. Davis Outstanding Patroller Award

Mary Davis joined the NSP in 1968.  She has served in numerous leadership positions of increasing responsibility including Patrol Director, Region First Aid Advisor, Region Director, Division First Aid Advisor, Division OEC Supervisor, Assistant Division Director, National Board Member, and National Executive Committee.  Among Mary’s many accomplishments include her involvement in the WEC/OEC Program development and Fourth Edition.  Mary has been recognized for her many and continuous contributions, some of which are National Appointment #5006 in 1975, Southern Division Outstanding Professional Patroller Award in 1986, the Marlen Guell National Outstanding Administrative Patroller and Gold Star in 1991, and the Distinguished Service Award in 1968.  Despite being impacted with the ongoing physical side-effects of aggressive treatment for Ovarian Cancer in 1999, Mary has continued to serve in in several leadership and instructional roles in the Division while mentoring others.  Mary is currently a member of the Bromley Ski Patrol in southwestern Vermont.  In 2016, Mary Davis was inducted as a member of the NSP Hall of Fame.
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The 2019 winner was: Barbara Collins, Bristol Mountain Ski Patrol, GV Region

Donald Hamlin Outstanding OEC Instructor Award

Donald L. Hamlin joined the NSP in 1943.  Over the course of his 60-year membership, he patrolled in the Eastern PA, Western NY, and Northern VT Regions of the Eastern Division.  During the course of his career, he was a Patrol Director, Region Director, served as the eastern Division First Aid Advisor, and held National Appointment #2265.  Prior to the adoption of the OEC program by NSP, Don was an Advanced First Aid Instructor with the Red Cross training hundreds of Patrollers.  Not content with just providing care to the public in the winter, he and several other Patrollers founded Essex Rescue, a highly respected volunteer ambulance organization serving one of Vermont’s largest communities.  Don was a firm believer in training and encouraged continual training throughout the ski season.  His leadership and support of constant and challenging training have left an impact that can still be felt in the NSP.

The 2019 winner was: Glenn Gebhard GV

T. Tyler Davis Outstanding Instructor Award

The late T. (Thomas) Tyler Davis joined the NSP in 1958.  He served as a Patrol Director, Section Chief, and Region Director in Western Pennsylvania, now known as the Western Appalachian Region.  A recipient of the cherished Minnie Dole Award and a Gold Merit Star, Tyler was also an NSP Board Member, Assistant Eastern Division Director, and Eastern Division Awards Chairman.  He served as an Instructor and Instructor Trainer in every NSP discipline including OEC, Avalanche, Mountaineering, and Ski and Toboggan.  Tyler was also a dedicated member of the American Red Cross.  In 2016, Tyler Davis was inducted as a member of the NSP Hall of Fame. ​
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The 2019 winner was: Pamela Welch GV

Donald F. Page Outstanding Administrative Patroller Award

Donald F. Page joined the NSP in 1955.  He served as a Patrol Director, Section Chief, Region Director, Assistant Division Director, Division Director, and NSP Board Member.  He coordinated the selection of NSP volunteers for the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid.  Don Served as Parliamentarian at Eastern Division Annual Meetings for over40 years.  Awarded National Appointment #2182 in 1960, was a recipient of the coveted Minnie Dole Award and inducted as one of the first NSP Hall of Fame members in 2012.

​The 2019 winner was: Nancy Mayberry EPA

Al Pels Outstanding Alumni Award

Al  Pels was an active member of the National Ski Patrol for 62 years and proudly patrolled at Mad River Glen, VT; Smugglers’ Notch, VT; Great Gorge/Vernon Valley, NJ; Crotched Mountain, NH; and Ragged Mountain, NH. He was a former National Board Member, NJ Region Director and Section Chief, NH Alumni Advisor, and most recently was the Eastern Division Alumni Advisor where he excelled in  leadership roles.

​The 2019 winner was: Ed Hirshman EPA