The Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games announced the formation of its Utah 2034 Education Committee. The 16-person advisory committee brings together leaders from education, business, nonprofit, and sport who share a commitment to empowering Utah’s next generation.
The committee will provide strategic guidance, foster partnerships, and develop statewide initiatives that connect students and educators to the opportunities created along the road to 2034. Its mission includes the launch of a statewide classroom education program.
“A key vision point for Utah 2034 is to elevate communities,” said Utah 2034 President and Executive Chair Fraser Bullock. “Our Utah 2034 Education Committee brings together a diverse group of leaders who can guide us in impacting youth through classroom programs across the entire state, serving as a model for others to showcase the power of education and sport.”
One of the key missions of the Education Committee is to oversee a statewide education strategy that uses the excitement and values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement to strengthen student literacy, increase school attendance, and track measurable student outcomes.
The Education Committee will be chaired by Amy Garff. The Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation is a founding captain in Utah 2034’s innovative Podium34 program. As a pioneering captain in the Podium34 program, the family’s Ken Garff for Good foundation, which has provided pathways to education for Utah students for more than 20 years, will be providing leadership in developing educational tools to bring Olympic and Paralympic values into Utah classrooms.
Utah’s past state superintendent of public instruction, Syd Dickson, will serve as the committee’s vice chair. Olympic champion Nathan Chen, a Utah native, will serve in an athlete role.
“The Garff family has long been a believer in the power of education. Amy’s leadership of the Education Committee is a good example of how Podium34 can translate philanthropic participation into tangible statewide impact,” said Utah 2034 CEO Brad Wilson, who sits on the committee. “In our inaugural meeting, it was remarkable to see the interchange between educators from across the state, and how everyone was joined in a common mission.”
“The formation of the Education Committee is an important milestone as we begin building the educational legacy of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Garff. “By bringing together passionate leaders from across the state, we’re creating opportunities for students to engage with the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement in meaningful ways that will extend well beyond the Games.”
During its inaugural meeting July 29 at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, committee members were introduced to the vision and strategic priorities for education, and participated in collaborative discussions with Olympians, Paralympians and school district superintendents. The objective is to identify opportunities to integrate Olympic and Paralympic values into education and establish measurable goals for long-term impact.
Utah 2034 Education Committee
Chair: Amy Garff (President, Ken Garff Philanthropies)
Vice Chair: Syd Dickson (Past Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction)
Organizing Committee: Brad Wilson (CEO, Utah 2034)
Mindy Benson (President, Southern Utah University; Utah 2034 Board member)
Doug Bowser (Past President, Nintendo of America; Hasbro board member)
Nathan Chen (figure skating gold medalist)
Andy Cooley (Vice President of Technology Services, Kornerstone)
Lexi Cunningham (Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association)
Sheri Dew (Executive Vice President, Deseret Management Corporation)
Kathi Garff (Chair, Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation)
Molly Hart (Superintendent, Utah State Board of Education)
Geoff Landward (Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education)
Alisa Olsen (Elementary school teacher, Nibley Elementary, Cache County School District)
Andrea Seminario (Principal, Northwest Middle School, Salt Lake School District)
Erin Trenbeath-Murray (President, Ken Garff for Good)
About Utah 2034
The Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, known as Utah 2034, is an independent Utah non-profit responsible for organizing the 2034 Winter Games in Utah. The bid for 2034 was awarded in July 2024. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah 2034’s vision centers around elevating sport, communities, and the Games experience. Its foundation is built on the rich sport legacy from 2002, which has positively impacted youth and communities and made Utah an international hub for winter sports. Utah 2034 is looking to use the Games to catalyze communities across the entire state of Utah, while boosting interest in winter sport across the nation. The Organizing Committee is governed by a 26-member Board, with advisory guidance from a Steering Committee and subcommittees.
