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SALT LAKE CITY — Some feel it is extra important for Utah to encourage well-rounded student-athletes, being the state is an epicenter for winter sports.
The Winter Sports School, located in Park City, does so by educating student-athletes during the summer months so they can focus on athletics during more competitive seasons. The facility recently received a big donation from U.S. Ski and Snowboard, to help student-athletes chase their dreams.
"At winter sports school, we don't do sports: What we do is the academics," said Tess Miner-Farra, head of school at the Winter Sports School. She said the money pushes the school closer to reaching its $5-million-goal capital campaign, which ultimately, will offer more academic opportunities to students.
The Park City-based public charter school was designed to bridge the best of both worlds — academic and sports — at the highest level.
To date, the school has raised $2.8 million toward its $5-million "Reaching New Peaks" capital campaign.
"This expansion will allow us to offer two sections per grade level, more flexibility to be able to offer dedicated honor sections, and a dedicated lab space and art studio," Miner-Farra said. She said 112 students are currently enrolled and the school's calendar runs from mid-April to just before Thanksgiving.
The generous donation from the school's neighbors comes on the heels of learning whether Utah will be home to another Winter Olympics.
"Helps reinforce that we are a force in the community that is a part of this whole community-wide effort to be able to develop student-athletes in this Olympic legacy that we have here in the region," Miner-Farra said.
Often sharing student-athletes, Miner-Farra said its neighbors at U.S. Ski and Snowboard share some of the same mission and are working together to help build and support well-rounded student-athletes.
