The College of Idaho has embarked on a fundraising campaign to establish the Ernie Meissner Ski Scholarship, to be used to support student-athletes in the men’s and women’s ski program.
Meissner was an All-America skier from 1976-79, helping C of I to their first-ever National Collegiate Ski Association national title in 1979. He became head coach in 1980 and for an eight-year period, built the most respected and dominant program in the NCSA – winning 11 team and five individual national championships, while coaching 40 All-America student-athletes. He was honored as a member of the C of I Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
Marty Holly, the Special Assistant to the Co-Presidents at The College of Idaho, worked with Meissner as a colleague and, later, the school’s athletic director.
“When I arrived in 1980, the ski team was the largest on campus,” Holly said. “Ernie’s athletes won national championships and, because of the foundation that he laid here at the college, the ski team continues to thrive to this day under the leadership of (current head coach) Ron Bonneau.”
The scholarship will recognize the efforts that Ernie Meissner made to the College during his 13 years on campus, with his legacy still strong in our ski program.
To make a donation to the Ernie Meissner Scholarship, visit https://www.collegeofidaho.edu/giving/give-form - and in the additional information category, add Ernie Meissner Endowment.
The College of Idaho has a 127-year-old legacy of excellence. The C of I is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.