The High Fives Foundation, a national leader in outdoor safety education and adaptive sports support, has named Essex Junction para-athlete Ryan McLaren as its 2025 M. Scott Roberds Athlete of the Year — one of the organization's highest honors.
The award is bestowed upon an adaptive athlete who embodies the spirit of adventure, resilience and community leadership defined by the legacy of the late Roberds, a passionate downhill skier who died in 2021.
McLaren, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down in a 2017 skiing accident, 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.
“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.”