Latest news with #Youngquist
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Sky News AU
'Passion for the outdoors': US university student killed while snowboarding at Perisher identified as new details reveal he was in Australia to work for snow season
A young American university student killed in a snowboarding accident at Perisher had travelled to Australia to work during the snow season before tragedy struck. The man, identified as Drew Youngquist, 22, died at the Perisher Ski Resort while snowboarding about 30 kilometres west of Jindabyne on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Youngquist was seriously injured after he hit a padded pole. NSW Police said emergency services were called to the scene at Perisher Valley about 2.30pm. A NSW Ambulance spokesman said a Toll Ambulance helicopter and several ambulance crews attended, but despite the desperate efforts of ski rescue teams and paramedics, Youngquist could not be saved. Mr Youngquist was an experienced skier and had only been in Australia for three months after travelling across the world to work as a guide, according to the Daily Telegraph. Earlier in the year, he wrote on LinkedIn he was heading to Australia to work for a local Jindabyne-based outdoors company, Action Learning Initiatives. The company's director Nathan Brown told The Daily Telegraph the accident had left Mr Youngquist's colleagues ''deeply saddened'', as they described him to be a 'young man full of energy and passion for the outdoors'. 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Drew yesterday. He was a much-loved member of our team at ALI,' Mr Brown said. 'He was a warm and loving young man full of energy and passion for the outdoors. 'We will miss him, and our thoughts are with his family in Utah during this tragic time.' 'I grew up skiing from a young age at Snowbasin resort. After my dad taught me how to ski, I decided I wanted to snowboard and taught myself that,'Youngquist previously wrote online. 'I recently got into ski touring and got my avalanche rescue certifications. I even enjoy working on my skis and just finished my first season as a ski patroller." A report on his death is due to be prepared for the coroner.
West Australian
6 days ago
- West Australian
US student dies in snowboarding accident at Perisher Ski Resort months after arriving in Australia for work
An American student has died in a snowboarding accident at Australia's largest ski resort. Drew Youngquist, 22, was snowboarding at Perisher Ski Resort in the Snowy Mountains, south of Sydney , when he collided with a padded pole about 2.30pm on Tuesday. Paramedics treated him at the scene, but he could not be saved. According to Youngquist's LinkedIn profile, he arrived in Australia in May to work as seasonal Winter Operations Staff for an outdoor education company based in Jindabyne, about 30km east of the resort. He was a student at the University of Utah, studying Emergency Medical Services, with aspirations of becoming 'a physician who doesn't just treat symptoms'. 'I want to listen, to understand, and to seek out others' stories,' he wrote. Before coming to Australia, Youngquist had worked as ski patrol and medical staff at Utah Olympic Park, where his duties included managing injuries on ski slopes. Perisher's vice president and general manager, Nathan Butterworth, said the resort was devastated by the news. 'Perisher Ski Resort, Ski Patrol, and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest's family and friends,' he said. NSW Police said Youngquist's family in the US has been informed, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
US student dies in snowboarding accident just months after coming to Australia
An American student has died in a snowboarding accident at Australia's largest ski resort. Drew Youngquist, 22, was snowboarding at Perisher Ski Resort in the Snowy Mountains, south of Sydney, when he collided with a padded pole about 2.30pm on Tuesday. Paramedics treated him at the scene, but he could not be saved. According to Youngquist's LinkedIn profile, he arrived in Australia in May to work as seasonal Winter Operations Staff for an outdoor education company based in Jindabyne, about 30km east of the resort. He was a student at the University of Utah, studying Emergency Medical Services, with aspirations of becoming 'a physician who doesn't just treat symptoms'. Youngquist began working in Australia in May. Credit: LinkedIn 'I want to listen, to understand, and to seek out others' stories,' he wrote. Before coming to Australia, Youngquist had worked as ski patrol and medical staff at Utah Olympic Park, where his duties included managing injuries on ski slopes. Perisher's vice president and general manager, Nathan Butterworth, said the resort was devastated by the news. 'Perisher Ski Resort, Ski Patrol, and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest's family and friends,' he said. NSW Police said Youngquist's family in the US has been informed, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
7NEWS
6 days ago
- 7NEWS
US student dies in snowboarding accident at Perisher Ski Resort months after arriving in Australia for work
An American student has died in a snowboarding accident at Australia's largest ski resort. Drew Youngquist, 22, was snowboarding at Perisher Ski Resort in the Snowy Mountains, south of Sydney, when he collided with a padded pole about 2.30pm on Tuesday. Paramedics treated him at the scene, but he could not be saved. According to Youngquist's LinkedIn profile, he arrived in Australia in May to work as seasonal Winter Operations Staff for an outdoor education company based in Jindabyne, about 30km east of the resort. He was a student at the University of Utah, studying Emergency Medical Services, with aspirations of becoming 'a physician who doesn't just treat symptoms'. 'I want to listen, to understand, and to seek out others' stories,' he wrote. Before coming to Australia, Youngquist had worked as ski patrol and medical staff at Utah Olympic Park, where his duties included managing injuries on ski slopes. Perisher's vice president and general manager, Nathan Butterworth, said the resort was devastated by the news. 'Perisher Ski Resort, Ski Patrol, and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest's family and friends,' he said. NSW Police said Youngquist's family in the US has been informed, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DPS superintendent accuses board member of ambitions to take superintendent position
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero sent a letter to the school board on April 22 alleging that one of the board's members has been openly hostile, rude and has an 'obsession with (Marrero's) removal,' according to the letter. That board member was identified as John Youngquist, with Marrero claiming he 'consistently demonstrated a pattern of hostility, policy violations, racial insensitivity, and unethical conduct that has created a toxic working environment, undermined district leadership, and distracted from our core mission of serving all students equitably.' Denver Public Schools' board votes to extend superintendent's contract, minus bonus Youngquist, who once served as principal of East High School, spoke with FOX31 on Monday night and denied the allegations made by Marrero. 'Most troubling, it is increasingly clear that Mr. Youngquist is not invested in the success of Denver Public Schools,' Marrero's letter continued. 'Instead, his behavior signals an intent to cause harm — in pursuit of personal ambition.' Marrero also argued that Youngquist suggested a buyout of the superintendent's contract 'as a tactic of intimidation.' Marrero's contract was extended until June 2028 in a 5-2 vote earlier this month. Youngquist and Board Treasurer Kimberlee Sia both voted against the contract extension. 'His obsession with my removal, coupled with his private aspirations to assume district leadership, strongly suggests a conflict of interest,' Marrero wrote to the board. 'It is becoming increasingly clear that his actions are driven by personal ambition to become superintendent himself as he had previously pursued repeatedly, unsuccessfully.' Youngquist, while speaking with FOX31, was asked if he thinks his 'no' vote spurred the letter. 'It feels that way coming at this particular time, he mentions, also that I want to be superintendent. I don't want to be superintendent,' Youngquist told FOX31 on Monday night. 'I had applied and interviewed for that job. Didn't get it and I was good with that then, and I'm good with that now. I'm here to lead on the school board, and to lead effectively on the board for our community.' Aurora City Council implements changes to public comment rules Youngquist was elected to the school board in 2023. Marrero named seven topics that he believes Youngquist has demonstrated, ranging from 'hostile and demeaning behavior toward staff, particularly staff of color,' to violations of governance policies BSR2 and BSR3, breaches of confidentiality and ethics violations, as well as 'public undermining of district leadership and strategy.' Marrero said the Youngquist 'actively' worked to discredit leadership and strategic vision, 'including by challenging the validity of state-mandated student data and assessment outcomes,' and by allegedly meeting privately with individuals or groups to 'undermine district initiatives.' Marrero said he has tried to 'work beyond this behavior and even tried coaching' his team members, who he alleged were at the receiving end of 'attacks' by Youngquist. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox He asked the school board to: Censure Youngquist for repeated violations of board policy, inappropriate conduct and unethical behavior Clearly prohibit his direct engagement with district staff outside of official channels Reaffirm the board's governance protocols Require immediate governance and anti-bias training, specifically related to policy governance and equity-centered leadership Review potential conflicts of interest if Youngquist's intent is to seek leadership within the district The district did not issue a comment on the matter on Monday, nor has it acted on the request to censure Youngquist. The last time a DPS board member was censured was in 2021 against Auon'tai Anderson. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
