University of Denver Athletics

1987
Carol Oakleaf entered the University of Denver in September 1987. Carol graduated in June 1992, having taken an extra year to study abroad at the University of Oslo, Norway. Upon returning to the U.S., Carol began her studies at the University of Colorado Medical Center. Today, she lives in Denver and practices as a physician's assistant with a renowned Denver clinic. Carol, an Arvada High School graduate, was involved in both the children's hospital and Winter Park handicapped ski programs. Carol skied competitively and volunteered as a ski instructor for the disabled. Carol exemplified the student-athlete and the kind of mature young student-athlete Willy so admired.



1992
Louie Bucud enrolled in the fall of 1992 to take an engineering degree. Louie graduated from West High School in Denver. He worked part time at a downtown McDonalds. He was born in the Philippines, the youngest of seven children. Due to a birth disease defect, Louie had been hospitalized so much that at age nine he was considered a second grade student. He suggested to the doctors at Children's Hospital in Denver that he was ready to lose his foot so that he could continue his life goals: Attend school and make good use of his talents. Louie also took part in the Children's Hospital and Winter Park handicapped ski programs. In his off time, Louie participated in foot races as a wheel chair competitor. Louie lives the Willy Schaeffler Scholarship slogan: "Achievement in the face of adversity." 

1997 
Robby Shelton began his studies at the University of Denver in autumn 1997. During his time at DU, Shelton was actively training with the able-bodied skiers on the DU varsity team, and according to former DU championship ski team coach, Kurt Smits, more than held his own. It was his academics, however, that eventually maintained Shelton's full attention, and lead to his amazing story in biological research. Robby truly epitomizes the saying, "when one door shuts, another opens." To learn more about Robby, read this front page story from USA Today.



2002
Allison Jones - The fourth WSSF recipient entered DU as a freshman during the fall of 2002. Allison Jones may be the highest caliber athlete to have received the WSSF scholarship. She was a Paralympic medalist in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to her great skiing accomplishments, Allison is an outstanding cyclist. During the 2003 European Championships for disabled in Prague, Czech Republic, she won the 500m sprint and in the road races, she was second in the 7.1km TT, and third in the 3km pursuit. In the 500m, she set the first world record in the event. For more information on Ali, check out her website at www.jonezysport.com. 

2009
Nick Catanzarite - The WSSF was proud to have student-athlete Nick Catanzarite as its fifth recipient. Nick, 32, is a dual graduate major in law and international relations. In the first quarter of 2009, Nick competed in the world cup finals in Mt. Whistler-Blackcomb, Canada, in a test event for the 2010 Paralymics, as well in the U.S. Nationals in Winter Park (where he placed second in the giant slalom discipline). Nick Catanzarite is a two-time Paralympian, having competed for the U.S. national team in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in 2006 in Turino, Italy. In his previous summer, Nick interned as a law clerk with the Honorable McGahey, a judge in the Denver District Court. Nick is a product of the Winter Park Disabled Ski Program, and a current member of the U.S. National Adaptive Ski Team.
     

2012
Jamie Stanton - WSSF's sixth recipient in 2012 was Jamie Stanton. The 2017 Pioneer Award Winner won his first World Cup in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia in January of 2017 in Slalom. Shortly after that, Stanton won in the World Cup Finals in Slalom in PyeongChang, South Korea in a Paralympic Test event for the 2018 Olympic Games. The 2016 Adaptive Athlete of the Year from the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame earned his first World Cup podiums in 2013 when he won two silvers and a bronze in 2013 in New Zealand and Australia. During his sophomore year of college, Stanton earned a spot on the U.S. Paralympic alpine skiing development team in 2013-14. Stanton would go on to earn a spot at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, finishing sixth in the super-G competition and 13th in the super combined. Stanton, whose right leg was amputated when he was six months old, competed on the Rochester Adams High School golf and ski teams, serving as captain for both teams as a junior and senior. Stanton won the Michigan Adaptive Sports Skiing State Championship in both 2011 and 2012. He also finished fourth at the 2012 Michigan High School Sports Association Skiing State Championship Qualifier, but he bypassed the State Championship in order to compete in the national Huntsman Cup in Park City, Utah, where he won both slalom and giant slalom to claim the overall championship. 


2020 - 2025
Kristian Moen - The seventh WSSF scholar was awarded to Oslo, Norway World Cup Paralympics snowboard racer, Kristian Moen. Moen began his DU studies in fall 2020.  Mr. Moen will focus his University of Denver studies on economics. He is also a 2019 graduate of Roald Amundsen high school in Kolbotn. He has been a member of the Norwegian Paralympics Snowboard Team since 2018, and placed second in the 2019/20 boardercross world cup ranking. (Photo by Daniel Tengs).


2026
Audrey Crowley - She is the eighth WSSF scholar and a graduate of Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy in Eagle County, Colorado. Audrey is a rising star on the Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team and a Paralympic hopeful for the 2025 Winter Games in Italy. She is planning on joining the DU community in fall 2026.