Working on a degree or certificate? Or you've been thinking about going back to school? Educational Ascent Grants help employees pursue their educational goals. Find out more about these grants HERE. They are available to employees or those on Seasonal Inactive Status (SIS). This is a competitive grant process with specific requirements.

  • Educational Ascent Application- Opens August 1st
  • Household income under 600 percent of federal poverty level
  • Maximum award of $2500 toward any course leading to a degree or certificate
  • Must be employed by a Vail Resorts Company or on SIS
  • EpicPromise Scholars Application- Opens September 1st
  • Open to children of a United States based employee or those United States persons with SIS status (up to age 26) who are pursuing post-secondary education
  • Household income under 600 percent of federal poverty level

Need Inspiration?  Read below about a recent recipient.

Max Harris-Vail Mountain- Children's Ski Instructor

What and where will you study? Although I am not required to choose a specialty until my third year of medical school at Rush University, working in the emergency department at Vail Valley Medical Center has cultivated great passions for orthopaedics and emergency medicine. 

How will you use the degree in your life?  The Vail Valley has been vital to my development as a health care professional and I have built so many amazing relationships within both the ski school and hospital communities.  After medical school and my residency I plan to return to Vail and provide my services as a physician to the community here.  

What would you say to your co-worker’s about the EpicPromise Foundation?  I would tell them that Vail Resorts has set up a generous program for their employees to pursue their educational dreams.  I would tell them that if they have been wanting to explore a career path or further themselves educationally and need some extra assistance to look into getting support from Epic Promise.   

What would you say to donors and employees that have given money to the Foundation?   
I think the foundation has provided an amazing opportunity for a large corporation to assist it's employees in times of need and create a special sense of community that not many large companies can provide. 

How did the grant make you feel?   
Receiving the grant gave me a great sense of pride knowing that Vail Resorts recognizes my passions for both skiing and medicine and is supporting my aspirations to become a doctor through this grant.  Being a ski instructor has helped me develop certain skills to communicate with diverse groups of people and understand their needs.  These skills will be vital as I work to become a doctor and treat a variety of patients of different ages and backgrounds.