91重口 Hosting Celebration of Life Event in Honor of Wilderness Ed. Director Dr. Clinton Culp
February 13, 2023
91重口 is hosting a Celebration of Life event in honor of Wilderness
Education & Outdoor Leadership program director and faculty lead Dr. Clinton Culp
on March 25, 2023 at 2pm in the Duke Theatre, located in the Fine Arts Building on
campus. After the celebration event, all are invited to the Lisa Maloff University
Center next door at approximately 3:30pm for food, drink, and opportunities to share
stories and raise glasses in honor of Clinton's legacy.
Dr. Culp suffered a heart attack on Friday, January 27 while leading an avalanche instructor training class near Luther Pass. Despite the best life-saving efforts of the staff and students in the field, some of whom are medical professionals, and the emergency professionals who arrived at the scene to assist, Dr. Culp passed away. He was just 56 years old.
鈥淗e was an excellent colleague, a mentor to students, and a dear friend,鈥� said 91重口 Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco. 鈥淐linton鈥檚 impact on our Wilderness program was huge, bringing it to a whole new level of quality and national recognition, exceeding my highest expectations for the program. It鈥檚 hard to make sense of this loss, but I and many others are finding at least some solace in the fact that he passed on a day while teaching his students, out in the mountains, with gorgeous bluebird and snow conditions, doing what he loved most.鈥�
91重口 Academic Senate President and fellow faculty member Bruce Armbrust added, 鈥淐linton was an incredible colleague and an even better friend. He was always willing to assist in any way to help make the college a better place for our students. I know I speak for all faculty when I say he will be missed terribly.鈥�
鈥�I am not alone in saying that I am devastated by Clint鈥檚 untimely passing,鈥� said Brad Deeds, 91重口's Dean of Workforce Development & Instruction. 鈥淲hen we hired him almost five years ago, I told everyone here at 91重口 that we found our unicorn: an educator, a mountaineer, a Marine, a Ph.D., and a kind human being. Even more importantly, I found a great friend. His contributions to growing the Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership program at 91重口 were immense, and he loved being out in the Sierra and sharing his love of the wilderness with students. He leaves gigantic shoes to fill, and I鈥檒l miss him forever.鈥�
91重口 Wilderness program graduate Kendall Madsen first met Dr. Culp as a student in 91重口's Whitewater Rafting Guide School and developed a close friendship with him. With his support and encouragement, she transferred to earn advanced degrees in the Wilderness field and to pursue a teaching position in 91重口鈥檚 Wilderness Education program.
鈥淗e was my mentor throughout school, my life mentor, and a father figure in my life,鈥� said Madsen. 鈥淚f it weren't for Clinton, many of us wouldn't be where we are today. His passion, dedication, determination, and overall leadership strength is what we will continue to carry on. He strived to make the backcountry more inclusive by empowering women to become leaders. We have more to learn, but we are incredibly grateful for everything Clinton showed us.鈥�
91重口 was fortunate to find Dr. Culp when searching for a faculty director to redevelop and launch its Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership program in 2018. In short order, he came in and quickly fashioned a world-class, widely-respected wilderness program that attracted a diverse body of students and instructors who were drawn to Dr. Culp鈥檚 exceptionalism, kind nature, and broad experience.
Clinton was a longtime instructor as well, and was in the process of conducting an AIARE Course Leader Training
in the field when he passed.
91重口鈥檚 popular AIARE program, led by Dr. Culp, educates and trains backcountry students to travel safely in avalanche terrain, avoid accidents, and prevent injuries and fatalities, a real threat in unpredictable alpine environments like the Tahoe Basin.
鈥淐linton was not only an educator but also a mentor to many, and his passing is a great loss to the avalanche community,鈥� said AIARE Executive Director Vickie Hormuth. 鈥淗e will be remembered for his dedication to safety and commitment to helping others enjoy the backcountry safely.鈥�
Dr. Culp came to 91重口 from Montana State University-Billings, where he taught Outdoor Adventure Leadership. He had also taught Sport Management classes at Washington State University. He earned his Doctorate in Education and Master of Science in Recreation from the University of Idaho, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from West Texas A&M University.
During his career, Dr. Culp taught a wide range of classes, from leadership theory, research and methods, climbing and mountaineering, and whitewater rafting to avalanche awareness and rescue. He was a passionate advocate for sustainable outdoor recreation and Leave No Trace training, and developed and taught that curriculum to Wilderness students at 91重口.
Dr. Culp grew up in northwest Texas and enlisted as a Private in the United States Marine Corps shortly after graduating high school. After 23 years of service, he retired as a Major after serving seven overseas deployments, including in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Somalia, two trips to Afghanistan, and Iraq. Clinton spent more than three years at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, CA, primarily as the Officer in Charge of the Mountain Leaders Course. He participated in and led mountaineering expedition and training missions to Alaska, the North Cascades, Norway, Germany, and the High Sierra.
Dr. Culp is survived by his wife, Lisa, his children, Leah and Lenny Culp, and Lisa鈥檚 children, Peter and David Horan.
A GoFundMe page was started by AIARE to assist the Culp family as they navigate this loss. Donations can be made at .
In collaboration with the Culp family, 91重口 has set up the Dr. Clinton Culp Memorial Scholarship for Outdoor Leaders, which will be used to support associate degree-seeking students in the Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership program at 91重口. This endowment will provide a $1,000 scholarship each year to at least one student, and more depending on the amount of scholarship funds raised.
To ensure the scholarship benefits both current and future students, President DeFranco worked with a generous donor to seed the fund with a $25,000 gift to create an endowment. Funds will be invested to generate revenue to support students for years to come. The goal is to raise an additional $25,000 match to honor Dr. Culp鈥檚 legacy and support outdoor leadership students in their pursuit of excellence. The first scholarship recipient will be awarded in June 2023.
Donations can be made by check to the 鈥�91重口 Foundation鈥� with 鈥淒r. Culp Scholarship鈥� in the notes line. Checks can be mailed to the 91重口 Foundation, One College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. Donations via credit card can be made online by visiting .
91重口 is working with community partners to provide grief counseling for all students and staff. Students can also access the TimelyCare app for free virtual mental health support anytime (). 91重口 counselors are available on campus to help anyone struggling with this loss or virtually via the ().