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1/21/08

New SLU Scholarship Honors Long-Time Coach Robert "Ax" Axtell

CANTON - A new scholarship has been established at St. Lawrence University honoring long-time ski coach and mentor to generations of students, Robert "Ax" Axtell. Pledges from alumni to date for the Robert "Ax" Axtell Scholarship exceed $500,000, with more support expected in the coming months. Established by Class of 1980 members Michael Ranger and Timothy Simpson, the scholarship was announced during the St. Lawrence Carnival ski event in Lake Placid January 18.

The scholarship will be awarded to a rising sophomore student who has demonstrated the qualities "Ax" represented: character, integrity, courage, focus and perseverance, and who has the leadership ability to make St. Lawrence University a better place.

Emeritus Trustee Ranger commented, "Bob Axtell played the role of mentor and coach to many generations of St. Lawrence skiers, always finding the correct mix of encouragement and pushing to get superior results. After he retired from his official duties as a coach, spending full time on his downtown Canton sporting-goods business, he continued to be a mentor to many student athletes, and was a true friend to many more. This scholarship is the perfect way to recognize a man who gave so much of himself for St. Lawrence students and asked for nothing in return. I hope that future students who are awarded the scholarship will carry on Ax's tradition of making St. Lawrence and Canton better places."

Director of Athletics Margie Strait commented, "This scholarship is a wonderful tribute to Ax and his impressive career in skiing. His influence in the world of collegiate skiing continues, through all the student athletes and coaches that he touched throughout his years of coaching and work in the ski industry."

Axtell began coaching collegiate skiing in 1955 at Paul Smith's College before returning to his hometown of Old Forge, N.Y., to coach the local high school's team. In 1958, he returned to college-level coaching at Norwich University, and took the reins of the St. Lawrence University ski programs in 1963. During his 10-year career at the University, he coached all three ski disciplines, Alpine, cross country and jumping. Under Axtell's guidance, the program grew to national recognition and boasted several world-class competitors. From 1973 through the late 1990's, he ran a downtown sporting-goods store full-time, and remained connected to the University's ski programs. In 2001, Axtell returned to the Saints' Nordic ski staff, where he has served as a volunteer mentor, motivator and friend.

The scholarship will support part or all of the St. Lawrence-funded grant awarded to the selected student as part of his or her financial aid package, and will be available to students who demonstrate financial need at or above the level of the award. Selection of the recipient will be made by the director of financial aid and a designated committee after the amount of aid for which the student is qualified for the sophomore year has been determined. The scholarship will be available to the recipient for his or her remaining three years of undergraduate work at St. Lawrence, provided the student's demonstrated annual need continues to exceed the grant award.

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