Vermont Academy and Mount Snow Academy Announce Merger

Vermont Academy (VA) and Mount Snow Academy (MSA) have announced a merger. The combined organization will offer student-athletes the opportunity to cultivate their passion for on-snow sports while maintaining a consistent college preparatory academic program.

Vermont Academy Head of School Dr. Jennifer L Zaccara notes, “Sports on snow have been a key part of Vermont Academy's history ever since Olympian Warren Chivers built our program in 1939. With this merger, we will continue to provide a stellar education along with even better mountain access for our alpine, freeskiing, snowboarding, and nordic athletes. I feel confident that Warren would be smiling right now and believe that his legacy is enduring.”

The schools first collaborated in 2020 and the strategic alignment was immediately clear. With the MSA location less than a mile from the Mount Snow resort, athletes can benefit from more time on snow and elite coaching and training from certified instructors while not sacrificing a rigorous academic curriculum. Interested members of the Vermont Academy’s alpine, freeski, and snowboard teams will be able to live, study, and train at the Mount Snow Academy facility in Dover, VT for the winter trimester.

Brian Suhadolc, vice president and general manager of Mount Snow resort adds, "We applaud the new partnership and look forward to continuing our longstanding relationship with the Academy.”

The Dover location will be renamed ‘Vermont Academy at Mount Snow’. In addition to serving VA students, the mountain campus will continue to host legacy winter season programs, the three-day weekend Jumpstart program and camps. In the future, this location will offer new year-round outdoor adventure activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing and white water.

Mount Snow Academy’s Head of School Peter Stokloza states, “This exciting merger with Vermont Academy will evolve the current MSA offerings and create new opportunities for the athletes who are pursuing competitive snowsports - giving them the best in education, athletic development, and training.”

Mike Choukas, Vermont Academy trustee and chair of the special initiatives committee adds, “This merger is in line with Vermont Academy’s rich history in winter sports and adds a differentiated offering for competitive sports-on-snow students.”

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Vermont Academy (VA) is a coeducational, independent boarding school serving 200+ students in grades 9 through 12, plus a postgraduate year. Vermont Academy provides a unique education for each student through challenging and rigorous academics, learning support, advising, and social-emotional learning. VA students learn to rely on their inner compass and can pursue adventurous ideas, genuine interests, and lifelong growth. Vermont Academy is located on a 400-acre campus in Saxtons River, Vermont.

Mount Snow Academy (MSA) is a high-level training program for aspiring and competitive alpine ski racers, freeskiers, and snowboarders. For over 50 years, their premier coaches have produced collegiate athletes, national team placements, and Olympic medalists. MSA’s athletes compete in the Southern Vermont Series (USASA) and the Southern Vermont Council (VARA)—two of the most competitive divisions in winter sports and train on snow six days a week, taking full advantage of Carinthia Parks and Mount Snow, a world class Vail resort.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jennifer Zaccara, Head of School for Vermont Academy, or Peter Stokloza, Head of School for Mount Snow Academy. Both can be reached at mtsnow@vermontacademy.org