Vermont Business Magazine High Fives Foundation, a non-profit national leader in outdoor safety education and adaptive sports support, has named Essex Junction, Vt., resident Ryan McLaren its 2025 M. Scott Roberds Athlete of the Year.
The award was presented during the foundation’s annual gala in Reno, Nev., an evening dedicated to honoring the heart of the organization — the athletes, partners, volunteers, and supporters who drive the mission of preventing life-changing injuries and providing resources and hope when they occur. The event raised more than $545,000 to support athletes across the country.
Presented by fellow Vermonter Chris Waker, the M. Scott Roberds Award is one of the foundation’s highest honors. It is not just a title, but a recognition of an individual’s character. It is bestowed upon an adaptive athlete who embodies the spirit of adventure, resilience, and community leadership defined by the legacy of the late M. Scott Roberds.
Roberds was a passionate skier and devoted friend of High Fives Foundation who deeply believed in the healing power of outdoor recreation. The distinction celebrates individuals who, like Scott, inspire others in adaptive sports to push boundaries and rediscover their potential.
“Ryan represents everything this award stands for,” said Roy Tuscany, founder and CEO of High Fives Foundation. “His resilience, leadership, and commitment to showing up for others continue to inspire our athletes and our entire community. Ryan doesn’t just adapt…he leads, and that spirit is exactly what M. Scott Roberds embodied.”
Honoring a Spirit of Adventure
Earlier this year, High Fives Foundation released a short film spotlighting McLaren’s recovery from a life-changing spinal cord injury sustained while skiing at Mad River Glen in Fayston, Vt. McLaren was skiing the mountain for the first time on St. Patrick’s Day in 2017 when he landed on a rock. The fall left him paralyzed from the waist down.
McLaren was selected for the award for his unwavering commitment to reintegrating into outdoor sports and his role as a leader within the adaptive athlete community.
“For High Fives, outdoor sports are a medium to unlock the freedom that lives inside all of us, whether you’ve experienced a life-altering injury or not,” McLaren said. “That freedom — in mind and body — has built a community of growth, celebration, and stoke. A true Ohana. I am proud to be part of a group of athletes, volunteers, donors, and staff that show the world the power of possibility. The Scott Roberds Athlete of the Year Award is an incredible recognition and an inspiration to find new ways to serve our community.”
Ryan McLaren is a lifelong Vermonter who has been active in volunteer and public service before and after his injury. In addition to time spent in state government, McLaren has served as a longtime aide to U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, a high school lacrosse coach, and an elected Justice of the Peace in Essex Junction, where he resides with his spouse and two young children.
McLaren is also a dedicated para-athlete, having completed the Boston Marathon five times as a hand cyclist. He will participate in the 2026 race this coming April.
As the 2025 M. Scott Roberds Athlete of the Year recipient, McLaren joins a lineage of individuals who have turned life-changing injuries into a platform for inspiring others.
ABOUT HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION | High Fives Nonprofit Foundation focuses on preventing life-changing injuries and provides resources and hope if they happen. It was formed as a way to “pay-it- forward” by the founder, Roy Tuscany, after his own recovery from a spinal cord injury. The Foundation has expanded to help 1,011 athletes from 47 states and territories plus Canada since its inception in 2009. High Fives Foundation is a California-based, national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.highfivesfoundation.org.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — High Fives Foundation
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