The Russ Haggett Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Down East Ski Club in 2003 in honor of Russ Haggett. An annual fundraising race was held by the ski club at Shawnee Peak for many years to support two Scholarships at Lake Region High School for graduating Seniors going on to higher education who were members of either an Alpine or Nordic Ski team.
Lake Region High School Now manages the Scholarship Fund.
Russ Haggett, a 2003 inductee to the Ski Maine Hall of Fame, was Pleasant Mountain’s (currently known as Shawnee Peak) most prolific general manager throughout the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. His dedication to the mountain and its skiers is legendary. Haggett’s vision and ambition made Pleasant Mountain into a true winter destination, thus improving the Lakes Region winter economy forever. His commitment to the children of Bridgton is evident in the scores of families that grew up skiing at Pleasant Mountain and now teach their own children to ski at Shawnee Peak. This dedication to affordable skiing for all was summed up at the 2003 Induction Ceremony for the Ski Maine Hall of Fame.”Russ Haggett is honored for introducing the joy of skiing to many Mainers, ” said Dave Irons, Maine Ski Hall of Fame chairman at the induction ceremony. “Russ made sure that kids in Bridgton that couldn’t afford to ski, got to ski.”