At the 2023 Sky Valley Community Awards ceremony, Christine Olson, an SEF board member, presented the Citizen of the Year award to the Galle family. The following are my remarks.
Tonight on behalf of the Sultan Education Foundation Debbie and I present this award to the Galle Family in appreciation of their support of the Gage Galle Memorial Scholarship which not only carries on the memory of Gage, but also makes it possible for other students from the Sky Valley area to chase their dreams as Gage did.
I was lucky enough to know Gage because he and my brother Jake were best friends.
My brother and Gage were close enough that this year when my brother and his wife had a baby boy, Gage is the name they proudly gave my nephew.
When I learned I would helping to present this award tonight to the Galle Family, I thought who better
than my brother to describe Gage. Here is what my brother had to say.
I named my son Gage because I hope my son grows up to be the individual Gage Galle was.
Gage always had the biggest smile on his face which you couldn’t help but smile back at. In high school, Gage was always the most talented soccer play on the field and the friend you always wanted to be hanging out with.
There was never a dull moment with Gage. Gage enjoyed life no matter who he was with and everywhere he went. He loved spending time with his mom and she was always an invited guest on his crazy adventures.
Gage made a living spreading his passion and joy for life with anyone willing to jump out of an airplane. Gage was selected for and competed on the USA national Swooping Team, traveling and competing all over the world as one of the best, but he never let it go to his head – no matter how successful he had become, he always stayed humble and kind.
If you go to YouTube and search GoPro’s Top Ten Epic Sends of all time you will find that
smile, his love for life, and his signature laugh radiating in the #1 spot where his video has remained for years and has been viewed more than 460,000 times.
Gage lives through his friends and family who enjoy reminiscing about the wonderful memories he gave them and his love continues to give back through his videos, pictures, memories, and the Gage Galle Memorial Scholarship.
In appreciation of the Galle Family and their contributions to the Gage Galle Memorial Scholarship it is my honor tonight to share not only Gage’s memory, but also to award the Galle Family with this certification of appreciation.
Additionally, in order to thank you for your support, the Sultan Education Foundation B
oard has elected to make a donation to Gage’s Memorial Scholarship Fund this year which will be awarded to a student this coming spring.