congratulations to the 2026 pnwsef scholarship recipients

We are thrilled to announce this year’s PNWSEF scholarship recipients. These athletes exemplify the dedication, character and love of the sport that our organization celebrates. Please join us in congratulating them!

JOSIE HOWE — Jane Henry PNW Scholarship (Crystal Mountain Alpine Club)

Josie Howe has been part of the Crystal Mountain Alpine Club family since 2014, when what started as a way to make friends on the hill grew into a decade of racing, growth, and community. A committed FIS-level alpine racer, Josie embodies the values the Jane Henry Scholarship was created to honor — she is at home in the mountains, passionate about teamwork, and dedicated to pushing herself in every arena of her life.

Beyond the racecourse, Josie has channeled her experiences into a clear calling: nursing. Inspired by supporting a teammate through cancer treatment, she participated in a pediatric nursing camp at Seattle Children's Hospital in summer 2025, gaining hands-on clinical experience. This fall, she will attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she has been accepted into the direct-entry nursing program and earned a spot on the alpine ski team.

Josie has balanced her racing career with work at her local grocery store since sophomore year, contributing to her own athletic expenses. We are proud to support her next chapter. Congratulations, Josie!

QUINTEN KOCH — R Dean Palmer (Plain Valley Nordic Team)

Quinten Koch's story is one of the most unlikely — and inspiring — in PNW skiing. Growing up in the deserts of Arizona, he had never seen snow until age seven. After moving to Washington, he found his way to cross-country skiing through the Plain Valley Nordic Team at age 12, initially bribed with candy and eventually hooked for life.

What kept Quinten coming back was the community he found on skis — the friendships, shared suffering, and shared joy that define the sport at its best. Inspired by an older teammate who went on to race at the collegiate level, Quinten committed himself fully: rarely missing a practice, adding extra workouts, and racing every opportunity he could find over six dedicated years.

That work ethic paid off. Quinten has been offered a spot on the Dartmouth ski team, where he will pursue both a Division I racing career and an Ivy League education. His sights are set on NCAAs, the World Cup, and beyond. Congratulations, Quinten!