The Teton Climbers’ Coalition (TCC) has announced the creation of the Women’s Grand Scholarship Endowment Fund, a permanent fund designed to ensure that the Women’s Grand Scholarship—a needs-based, all-women, fully guided ascent of the Grand Teton—continues every year in perpetuity.
The announcement was made Saturday night, January 17, during AlpinFilm, the TCC’s annual film festival celebrating mountain culture, stewardship, and community. Former TCC board member Morgan McGlashon joined current board members Alice Pang, Sheila Walsh-Reddy, and Marian Meyers on stage to share the news with the community.
Donations to the Fund may be made here.
Initiated by Dawn Rucker, a participant in the 2024 all-female guided ascent of the Grand Teton, the endowment fund has a goal of $115,000. $38,000 has already been pledged. Norene Christensen of Four Pines Physical Therapy has committed $12,000 over the next year, complementing Rucker’s $25,000 commitment.
Once fully funded, the endowment will support one Women’s Grand Scholarship recipient every year, with the TCC drawing no more than four percent annually to underwrite the cost of the climb.
“The goal of this fund is to provide sustainable, long-term financial support for women climbers in the Tetons,” said Rucker. “I wanted to create a one-time fundraising effort that would endure—so that, every year, a local woman can take a meaningful risk, challenge herself in the mountains, and stand on the summit of the Grand, regardless of her financial situation.”
Rucker moved to Jackson full-time in 2021 and quickly found herself drawn to the Grand Teton as a defining presence in valley life. After learning about the 100-year anniversary of Eleanor Davis’s historic 1923 ascent and the commemorative all-women climb in 2023, she signed up immediately.
“For me, training for and climbing the Grand as part of a team of women was powerful and unique,” Rucker said. “There’s nothing more beautiful and empowering than when you prove to yourself just how strong and brave you are. Yet women are far less likely to be encouraged to take risks—from childhood onward. I wanted to help change that by creating more opportunities, more role models, and more women exercising their courage muscle in the mountains.”
About the Women’s Grand Scholarship
Now entering its fourth year, the Women’s Grand Scholarship is a need-based program offered by the TCC in partnership with Exum Mountain Guides, with support from Dawn Rucker, Four Pines Physical Therapy, and Women in the Tetons. The scholarship celebrates more than a century of women climbing the Grand Teton while expanding access to one of the Tetons’ most iconic experiences.
The 2026 scholarship covers the full cost of a four-day, all-women guided Classic Grand Teton Climb, scheduled for August 19–22, 2026 (dates subject to guide availability and conditions). The program includes:
- Two days of climbing school, focused on foundational skills such as belaying, rappelling, bouldering, and multipitch climbing
- A two-day summit attempt, including a night at Exum’s high camp on the Lower Saddle
- A team-based approach that emphasizes learning, shared responsibility, and community
No prior climbing experience is required—only preparation, commitment, and a willingness to learn.
“This isn’t just a guided ascent,” said TCC Executive Director Christian Beckwith. “It’s an immersive experience that builds skills, confidence, and lasting connections. The endowment ensures that this opportunity remains part of our community—year after year.”
Impact and Legacy
Past recipients have gone on to deepen their involvement in the local climbing community. Zuri Vasquez Bedolla of Driggs, Idaho, the 2024 scholarship recipient, described reaching the summit as “a wave of emotions,” and has since helped organize BIPOC climb nights in partnership with Camina Conmigo and the TCC.
In 2025, thanks to generous donations from Four Pines Physical Therapy, Women in the Tetons, and Dawn Rucker, three local climbers participated in an all-female guided ascent—demonstrating both the demand for and impact of the program.
Eligibility and Application Details
The 2026 Women’s Grand Scholarship is open to individuals who:
- Identify as women (in any form or complexity)
- Are 18 years or older
- Reside in Teton County, Wyoming, or Teton County, Idaho
- Are available for the full four-day program
Applications may be made here.
Application deadline: March 29, 2026
Recipient announced: May 4, 2026
Questions about the scholarship may be directed to Alice Pang at pang.alice@gmail.com.
Supporting the Endowment
The Women’s Grand Scholarship Endowment Fund is being established as a one-time fundraising effort, with a goal of approximately $115,000, enough to fund one scholarship climber every year, forever.
“I’ve made the first donation,” Rucker said, “and I’m asking the women who’ve already stood on that summit—and everyone who believes in what this experience represents—to help make this legacy possible.”
Donations can be made through the Teton Climbers’ Coalition website.
About the Teton Climbers’ Coalition
The Teton Climbers’ Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to stewarding climbing resources, advocating for access, and building a strong, inclusive climbing community in the Tetons through education, conservation, and community-based programs.
For more information about the Women’s Grand Scholarship or to contribute to the Endowment Fund, visit tetonclimbers.com.