FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Big Nordic Ski News at St. Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN

High school Nordic athletes now have another option in Minnesota to continue skiing competitively while pursuing an undergraduate degree. Through the efforts of St. Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) freshman and former Mahtomedi High School Nordic skier, Heidi Ledermann, and with support from the administration and Winona community members, the SMUMN Student Senate approved the Nordic Ski Club as an official SMUMN student organization on January 26th, 2016. With the designation, resources will be available to support training and travel to collegiate and citizen level races for all SMUMN undergraduate students wishing to continue their development in Nordic skiing. Potential coaches and advisors have already been identified as the club works to be fully competitive for the 2016-17 ski season.

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, Minnesota is renowned for quality education, teachers who care, great campus life, and is also home to one of the finest campus Nordic ski trails in the Midwest with over 15 kilometers of groomed ski trails and a Nordic Ski Center. It is the only college in Minnesota with lighted Nordic trails and snowmaking on campus. Associate Vice President of Campus Services, Chris Kendall, remarked, "We are very fortunate to have an excellent trail system here at St. Mary's that is both scenic, as well as challenging. We are very excited to have an active Nordic ski program again on campus.” For more information about the new St. Mary's Nordic Ski Club, visit https://www.facebook.com/SMUMNnordic/. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has rolling admission, so it is not too late for high school seniors to apply. Students who apply for admission and financial aid by March 15 will still be eligible for St. Mary’s scholarships for the 2016-17 school year.