University of New Hampshire Athletics
Scholarship Boosts Nordic Ski Team
7/27/2015 12:03:00 PM | Athletics Development
Recently, when Peter Chudy, II '87 introduced his 10-year-old daughter to Cory Schwartz '82, he described Schwartz as his ski coach. Never mind that Chudy last skied for Schwartz nearly 25 years ago. Or, that Chudy is now a highly regarded veteran of the global finance industry, working for UBS as chief risk officer for the firm's Swiss National Bank Stabilization Fund. For Chudy, the impact Schwartz made on him is as fresh today as the new powder that can still lure him and his family to the ski trails.
"Cory and I have stayed in touch through the years, and I eagerly await news on the team from him," Chudy says. "After more than 20 years, it shows you the impact athletics can have in young people's lives."
Schwartz is now in his 30th year as Nordic head coach at UNH, and his 27th year as the ski coordinator for the Wildcats. To honor Schwartz's service, Chudy established UNH's first Nordic ski team scholarship with an endowment announced at a ski alumni gathering in Durham on November 4. The UNH Nordic Ski Team Scholarship Fund is one of five that supports the ski program, and Schwartz considers it a critical boost in recruiting student-athletes.
"All these funds add up and can really make a difference," says Schwartz, whose teams are deep into training for the season opener on January 20 at the Bates Winter Carnival. "This will help us build for the future so that we can compete nationally."
Chudy says he wasn't a star on a Nordic team that was packed with national-caliber talent, but the intense training and racing with his teammates under Schwartz's leadership created a bond that endures.
"I've been successful with my business degree from the Whittemore School, but I was fortunate to combine that into a much more rewarding student-athlete experience," Chudy says. "So supporting the program in order to preserve the experience for aspiring athletes and at the same time giving the program the chance to reach higher levels is a great opportunity."
