Lake Tahoe snowboard champion Jamie Anderson awards students with sponsorship

In time for Christmas, South Lake Tahoe native and professional snowboard champion Jamie Anderson held a winter clothing drive and announced four local students would receive Sierra-at-Tahoe sponsorships.

In a partnership with the resort and the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, Anderson gave the sponsorships on Dec. 21 to South Tahoe middle school students Alondra Gomez, 13; Megan Rose Aquino, 13; Cesar Hernandez, 13, and Guillermo Perez Morris, 12. The students received an unlimited Sierra Resort season pass, new Billabong outerwear, a GNU snowboard, boots and bindings, goggles and Skullcandy headphones valued at more than $2,400 each.

Anderson, 22, created the Jamie Anderson Surprise Sponsorship to give back to the community and provide less fortunate students with the opportunity to snowboard.

With the support of Lake Tahoe Unified School Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater, Anderson worked with the school district to identify students who showed academic promise, strong work ethic and moxie. Sierra-at-Tahoe, her hometown ski resort and sponsor which has a long history of outfitting local students with ski passes in exchange for good grades, welcomed the opportunity.

“I’m excited to provide these kids this opportunity for the second year in a row. I was so lucky to grow up snowboarding at Sierra Resort, and I want to give that opportunity to others," Anderson said. "It’s always fun to spread holiday cheer and surprise four amazing kids with an entire set up and season pass, so they can ride all season long and hopefully fall in love with snowboarding like I did. It feels awesome! I’m so blessed to have this opportunity.”

Anderson also extended her philanthropic efforts with support to the Live Violence Free center, formerly the Tahoe Women’s Center, by setting up a giving station where community members delivered coats and warm clothing items.