Won for All Scholarship

This scholarship is homage to honor the legacy of our dear friend, community member and big brother Won Suh who tragically left us too soon. 

Won was an industry OG veteran living many years in Mammoth before relocating to WA to be a franchise player managing the hardgoods category for EVO. 

Won was our role model, his kindness was only matched by his compassion.  At his core, he was a genuine zen spirited human who cared deeply for others and the world around that let him enjoy his passion of snowboarding and mountain biking. 

To keep Won’s legacy burning brightly the “Won For All” scholarship was born to offer a community member full financial assistance to attend, experience and be enriched by the Stir-Fry snowboard event who otherwise may not be able to attend.

The ideal recipient winner is someone who embodies the characteristics that Won cherished and beholden: 

• Kind

• Altruistic 

• Compassionate

• Mentorship

• Empathetic

• Loving

In loving memory of Won Suh. 

Hear from our last year's scholarship recipient and community member Jessie Alcaraz from Portland Oregon:

“Being a first generation child from an immigrant family, snowboarding was never something that I was exposed to growing up, but I’d always wanted to try. A few years ago, a friend convinced me to enter a raffle for a snowboard, and I won! If it weren’t for that, maybe I never would’ve had the opportunity to get into it.

Learning something new as an adult is scary. It’s been a process finding myself in the sport, but through riding I’ve been able to find a community where I feel accepted and encouraged. I’ve met some pretty great people because of snowboarding! 

I feel so lucky to have been invited to Soy Sauce. Seeing all these rad AAPI snowboarders, especially the women, is so inspiring. It can be a little intimidating riding around the big dawgs sometimes, but this community has helped me break out of my shell. Soy Sauce isn’t just for the pros—it’s a place for shredders, of all abilities, to be a part of something special.

I’m stoked to be part of this movement that strives to create a welcoming space for people that are underrepresented. Snowboarding has become a huge part of my life, and being a part of this makes me proud to be an Asian American snowboarder.”

It’s back! For the 2025 Stir-Fry event the Soy Sauce Nation has partnered with their friends at Subaru USA to offer the “Take the Wheel Scholarship!”  

What is the purpose/goal of the “Take the Wheel Scholarship"?

For one special community member full financial assistance to attend, experience and be enriched by the 2025 Stir-Fry snowboard event. 

This scholarship was born out of Soy Sauce Nation's and Subaru USA shared core competencies and commitment to give back by creating a more diverse, inclusive, understanding and safe community on & off the mountains. 

The ideal candidate would embody the key characteristics as highlighted by Subaru’s corporate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging official statement located on their website: 

-Learning how to recognize and acknowledge biases when making decisions.

-Opening our hearts and minds to stories from colleagues and customers to foster unity and support.

-Valuing talent and skills from all backgrounds and experiences.

-Empowering colleagues with different experiences and perspectives throughout our organization.

Hear from our last year's scholarship recipient and community member Jen Ngo from Toronto Canada:

“As cliché as it sounds, the Soy Sauce Nation community means so much more to me than I can put into words, without falling short. It’s hard to express the feelings I have in regards to being a part of it, the people within it and these events.

The community is so much more than just a group of AAPI snowboarders - it’s a family, truly. Aside from coming together to have THE best time doing something that we all love and have fun doing, it’s about being our authentic selves, endless love, support, acceptance and making unforgettable memories with one another - both on and off hill, at these events, other events even, or just in general despite the distance(s) we may live from one another. Knowing that no matter how far apart we are from one another, we got each other's backs at the end of the day. It’s about uplifting one another, spreading positivity and making a difference, big or small! Even the smallest ripple can create a wave.

I’m so beyond grateful and so damn lucky to have been a part of this community over these last 3 years, and can’t wait for more to come! The memories I’ve created and shared with my Soy Sauce family will forever hold a special place in my heart, along with the relationships I’ve made along the way. I’m truly blessed to have had our paths crossed. It’s kinda crazy how much of an impact and how much love you can have for people that have been in your life for such a short amount of time, can have. There’s a quote that goes something along the lines of “It”s not about the length of time that you’ve known someone, that makes them your friend, but the impact that they leave”, that resonates with me when it comes to this community/the friendships I’ve made through Soy Sauce Nation and for that I am forever grateful. 

There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family 💛” 

Jen Ngo 2024 Stir-Fry x Subaru “Take The Wheel” Scholarship Recipient

See all pertinent terms and conditions of how to apply below:

Take the Wheel Sponsorship Presented by Subaru USA

• Hosted by Soy Sauce Nation on their website, including conditions, terms, and submissions.

• Sponsorship provides the opportunity to attend the 2025 Soy Sauce Nation Stir-Fry event at Boreal Mountain Resort.

• Coverage includes airfare, accommodations, food, and transportation (within the given budget for Soy Sauce Nation to manage).

Entry Requirements:

• Applicants must respond to the following prompt in 250 words or less:
  “What does belonging mean to you, and how could snowboarding become a space where everyone feels like they belong?”

For both scholarships please follow the application and apply through LINK HERE.

Terms and Conditions for the Take the Wheel Sponsorship Presented by Subaru USA.

1. Eligibility:
1.1. The contest is open to individuals aged 18 years or older as of the entry date.
1.2. Applicants must be residents of the United States.
1.3. No purchase necessary.

2. Entry Requirements:
2.1. To enter, applicants must submit a written response (250 words or less) to the following prompt:
"What does belonging mean to you, and how could snowboarding become a space where everyone feels like they belong?"
2.2. Submissions must be completed through the Soy Sauce Nation website during the entry period.
 2.3. Limit one entry per person. Multiple entries not allowed.
 2.4. Entries must be original and not previously published or submitted to other contests.

3. Submission Period:
3.1. The contest begins on March 4 and ends on March 12 , 10:59 PM PST.
 3.2. Late submissions will be considered.

4. Selection and Notification:
4.1. Submissions will be reviewed and judged by a panel selected by Soy Sauce Nation and/or Subaru USA representatives.
4.2. Entries will be evaluated based on authenticity and alignment with the prompt.
 4.3. The selected recipient will be notified via email or Instagram by March 14th. Failure to respond within 48 hours will result in forfeiture, and an alternate winner may be chosen.

5. Sponsorship Details:
5.1. The sponsorship provided by Soy Sauce Nation within the designated budget includes:

• Airfare to and from Reno.

• Accommodations for the duration of the event.

• Meals per diem and transportation
  5.2. Expenses beyond the outlined coverage will be the responsibility of the recipient.

6. Recipient Responsibilities:
6.1. The recipient must agree to participate in event-related media, including but not limited to interviews, photos, and social media coverage.
6.2. The recipient must adhere to all event rules and demonstrate conduct consistent with the values of Soy Sauce Nation and Subaru USA.

6.3. The recipient to share a static post on social media that they received the sponsorship to the event and tag Subaru USA IG account. Content is up to the discretion of the recipient.

7. Intellectual Property:
 7.1. By entering, applicants grant Soy Sauce Nation and Subaru USA a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and share their submissions for promotional and marketing purposes.

8. Privacy and Data Usage:
8.1. Personal information collected during the contest will be used solely for the purposes of administration and communication.
8.2. Data will not be shared with third parties without consent, except as required to administer the sponsorship.

9. General Conditions:
9.1. Soy Sauce Nation and Subaru USA reserve the right to modify or cancel the contest if unforeseen circumstances arise.
9.2. Decisions made by the judging panel are final and binding.
9.3. Participation constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

For further information or inquiries, please contact kame@soysaucenation.com