The National Ski Patrol has a system of awards designed to recognize and reward its patrollers for outstanding service in individual events and for extended service to the association. The National Awards Program may be supplemented at the division, region, section, or patrol level. Many of the awards can be made at any time during the year. NSP officers are reminded that for all awards, except the National Outstanding Awards, a minimum of 45 days from receipt in the national office is needed to process the award. For more information on the different types of awards and the nominating process, see Chapter 12 of the NSP Policies and Procedures available by logging in to http://www.nsp.org and clicking “Awards”
To nominate an individual or patrol for a Central Division award, please download the appropriate form from
Many of the award forms require logging in to the National website, https://www.nsp.org. Once logged in, they are available under Resources > Award Forms or through the links below.
The National Ski Patrol (NSP) takes great pride in honoring the dedication and service of its members through a variety of local and national awards. Every year, NSP patrols, regions, and divisions bestow numerous awards that recognize outstanding contributions and achievements within the organization.
NSP’s National Outstanding Awards are presented annually across several distinct categories. The categories and nomination forms are below. You will need to log in to NSP.org to access the forms:
Among the most highly coveted NSP awards are the Merit Stars, which come in four distinctive colors: Purple, Blue, Green, and Yellow. A Purple Merit Star is granted to a patroller who has demonstrated extraordinary skills in saving a human life through emergency care. The Blue Merit Star acknowledges patrollers who have provided crucial support by utilizing emergency care in an attempt to save a life. The Green Merit Star is reserved for NSP patrollers who exhibit outstanding heroism that, while exceptional, does not meet the lifesaving criteria of the Purple Merit Star. Lastly, the Yellow Merit Star is awarded to NSP patrollers for any remarkable act or service that significantly benefits the National Ski Patrol.
National Appointments have remained a longstanding tradition within NSP, honoring patrollers who exhibit exceptional leadership, sound judgment, character, and an unwavering commitment to the organization’s service. Over the course of NSP’s history, more than 10,000 National Appointment Numbers have been bestowed since its establishment in 1938.
The NSP’s Distinguished Service Award is dedicated to individuals who have exhibited extraordinary service to the National Ski Patrol and the skiing community for a minimum of 20 years. On the other hand, the Meritorious Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions and leadership by region or division staff members (region director and division director are ineligible).
In addition to recognizing individuals and patroller teams, NSP also acknowledges mountains that have a deep-rooted association with the organization and have provided steadfast support over the years through the Fifty Year Association Award.
The Minnie Dole Award, among the rarest of NSP’s accolades, pays tribute to a select few patrollers who exemplify the enduring dedication, devotion, and self-sacrifice of NSP’s founder, Charles Minot “Minnie” Dole. Since its inception in 1969, only 32 individuals, including Central Division patrollers Donald C Williams, Robert Morley, Bill Simonsen, Brian McCartney and Jeff Olsen, have received this prestigious award, reflecting their extraordinary commitment to the NSP’s mission and values.