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Update

May 29, 2011:

Ang Rita Sherpa received the 2011 Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal on the occasion of the Khumjung School Jubilee Celebration today. [ More ]

February 7, 2011:

The 2011 Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal winner is Ang Rita Sherpa, Senior Program Manager for The Mountain Institute. The award will be presented on the occasion of the Khumjung School Jubilee Celebration on May 29. [ More ]

November 17, 2010: Scott MacLennan, founder and Executive Director of The Mountain Fund, received the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal from Peter Hillary (Sir Edmund's son) and Dr. Beau Beza, chair of the Hillary Medal Selection Committee, at a formal banquet hosted by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University's Department of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning.     May 1, 2010: Scott MacLennan, founder and Executive Director of The Mountain Fund, has been selected to receive the 2010 Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal. MacLennan's work includes the rehabilitation of two monasteries, the staffing of a public school, and the foundation of school for HIV-affected children, two clinics and a training hospital. He has set up voluntourism programs, and mentored new NGOs around the world. He is truly a philanthropist in the mould of Sir Edmund Hillary. [ More ] Scott MacLennan's award will be presented later this year at a ceremony in Melbourne, Australia.

Sponsor: World Expeditions, a leader in small-group eco-adventures, is a long-time supporter of the Hillary Medal.

Scott MacLennan in Nepal. Courtesy of The Mountain Fund.

January 2, 2010:

We regret to inform the mountain community of the passing on Sunday, Dec 27, of Anthony John "Papa Tony" Freake.

In 2008, Tony Freake became the third winner of the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal, awarded "for remarkable service in the conservation of culture and nature in mountainous regions." In collaboration with students from Eton College and other groups, Tony helped the villagers of Phortse (Khumbu, Nepal) construct a school, teacher's house, clinic, gompa, monks' house, and youth center. He installed a micro-hydro plant and water line, and was working on an adult literacy program and cottage industry.

Coincidentally, Seth Sicroff (Projects Coordinator for Mountain Legacy) has just published an article on Tony's work at the Wandering Educators Web site. From that article:

We extend our condolences to Sheila and his friends in Phortse and around the world. Tony's mission will be carried on by his circle of collaborators. Those who would like to send messages of appreciation or find out how they can contribute to the Phortse Community Project may contact Sheila via Tony's email address: tony.freake at mypostoffice.co.uk If you're going to the Khumbu in Nepal, please visit Tony's beloved village of Phortse ... and stop by the gomba to light a butter lamp in gratitude for his life and his example.

On behalf of his friends at Mountain Legacy, Iet me offer our thanks and farewell, Tony. As the Sherpas say to one about to depart on a long journey, Kale pheb! Go slow.

Arjun Adhikari, President
Kumar P. Mainali, General Secretary
Beau Beza, Chair of the Hillary Medal Selection Committee

Sponsor:

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
Contributing intellectually and practically to the development of equitable and sustainable societies
Contact: Prof. Beau Beza (Email: beau.beza@rmit.edu.au)

Sponsor:

Cornell University Abroad
Contact: CUAbroad@cornell.edu, or click on photo above

 Sponsor:

Sunrise Pashmina
Handloomed for you in Nepal

 Sponsor:

Himalayan Perceptions,
by Jack D. Ives
"...an incisive and often withering account of the delusions and deceptions that have hobbled development efforts in the most dramatic and dynamic region of the world. It should be required reading for all students of the Himalayas, not to mention development planners."