Congratulations to our Gear.com Scholarship Winners!

After three months and more than 120 inquiries, Gear.com is stoked to announce our three inaugural Gear.com Scholarship winners: Kyle Banzon, Keagan Cross and Kaj Hansen. The winners, chosen for their genuine passion for the outdoors and a desire to pay it forward, will receive a minimum of $500 worth of gear to outfit their adventures.

“At Gear.com, we’re all about getting more people outside—the sooner, the better. We were so impressed by every application we received in the first round. These young people find inspiration from the outdoors and better yet, they want to share it with their friends and community. Kyle, Kaj and Keagan are incredibly deserving of the Gear.com Scholarship, and we are stoked to welcome them to the Gear.com family." -Brig Graff, Gear.com Chief Operating Officer.

KYLE BANZON, 20, IS A ROCK CLIMBER FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, WHO IS STUDYING TO BECOME A PHYSICAL THERAPIST. “I CAN HELP PEOPLE IN INJURY PREVENTION. WITH THIS SCHOLARSHIP, I COULD THINK LESS ABOUT WORKING FOR MY NEXT PAIR OF CLIMBING SHOES AND MORE ABOUT WAYS I CAN HELP OTHERS PROGRESS IN THEIR CLIMBING.”

KEAGAN CROSS, 18, IS A YOUNG OUTDOORSWOMAN STUDYING EARTH SYSTEMS AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY. “I BELIEVE THAT BY INTRODUCING PEOPLE TO OUTDOOR RECREATION, THEY GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE WORLD THAT TURNS INTO ENVIRONMENTALIST THINKING AND ACTIONS.”

KAJ HANSEN, 14, IS A PASSIONATE AND COMMITTED CLIMBER FROM TACOMA, WASH. “I’M EXCITED TO EXPLORE UNCLIMBED BOULDERS AND ESTABLISH NEW ROUTES AROUND WASHINGTON, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES CREATIVITY AND A SENSE OF ADVENTURE. IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY.”

Over the next year, we’ll get to know each winner better, share their stories and follow their adventures. More to come!

“We’re excited to get to know Kyle, Keagan and Kaj better over the next few months, and we also can’t wait to see more applications come through for the next round. We created this scholarship to empower a Gear.com generation of explorers, and we’re off to a great start." -Jonny Atencio, Business Development Director.