Meet our Athletes
Annually, over 75 athletes of all ages and ability take part in our programs. Many receive full or partial scholarships so they can join their eight week School Ski and Ride Programs at Stowe Mountain Resort. Others, receive financial assistance to ski independently on the mountain, or at a Nordic Ski center. Many also pursue dreams of swimming in the pool at the Swimming Hole, paddling and kayaking at the Waterbury Reservoir, and reaching new heights on an indoor climbing wall. We hope that you will enjoy getting to know this handful of recipients who presently receive financial assistance from GMAS. Next time you see them around, please say hello! And if you feel so inclined, help us continue to support them by making a donation.
Jack
Jack Clark is 22 years old, and the longest scholarship recipient at GMAS. Jack comes from a family of athletes and shares in the natural talent and love of sports. He grew up in Stowe and attended Stowe schools and graduated from Northern Vermont University in March of 2020. After graduating, he launched his sports career at the Alchemist Brewery where he has been writing a weekly sports newsletter for the past two years. Besides skiing in the winter, Jack’s other great passion is ice hockey. His brother is a coach and his sister a goalie in college. As a family they attend a lot of their games. Jack also has a gig, announcing and handling the music for boys and girls Stowe High School games at Stowe Arena. Jack also watches a lot of sports and his favorite sports teams are the NY Rangers and NY Yankees. If he’s not at a family sports activity, you can find him playing sports video games or listening to music. Summer brings weekly family softball games and lots of golf. You can find him coaching and giving tips to everyone as he rides around in the cart.
Jennifer
My love of winter and snow runs deep. I’ve always loved snow since I was little and enjoyed sledding, ice skating and helping my dad shovel sidewalks. I never dreamed in a million years I would learn how to ski. With my balance issues and not having a lot of stability, I felt it was only something on my bucket list that I would never accomplish. Last winter I was awarded a scholarship to ski with Green Mountain Adaptive Sports! What a wonderful experience it was to be able to ride the lift and ski down Toll Road! Due to my fused spine, I need assistance getting on and off the chairlift but once I’m up and coming down the mountain, it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world! I feel free and don’t feel like a person with a disability.
Patrick
For this young man who has cerebral palsy and is totally blind, skiing is all about the sensory experience. It is about being outside, riding the chairlift when snowflakes hit his face, feeling the wind at the top of Mt. Mansfield, and the thrill and acceleration of zooming downhill… This past summer, Patrick discovered a new passion when he participated in GMAS adaptive paddling boarding program at Lake Elmore.
Jamie
After a second stroke left her with substantial physical deficiencies on her right side, Jamie didn’t think she was ever going to be able to do “normal” sports again. In the winter of 2015, Green Mountain Adaptive Sports awarded her first ski scholarship. With a lot of hard work and perseverance, Jamie learned how to ski again, and adapt to her new “normal” body. In 2017, GMAS awarded her a swim scholarship with Just Ducky Aquatics to help her boost her confidence in the pool. Today, Jamie swims four nights a week with her local swim club and competes in regular swim meets throughout Central and Northern Vermont during the winter.
TJ
TJ thrives on being active and being around others. Skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort, and paddle boarding at Lake Elmore in GMAS’ adaptive programs offer him both. He has been an active participant and scholarship recipient since 2015, and hitting the slopes weekly is always the highlight of T.J.s week. Seeing him so happy and involved is also something that his family is extremely grateful for.
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Daniel
“GMAS has given me a childhood full of positive experiences,” comments Dan, an enthusiastic sixteen year-old young man. “Starting with private ski lessons I received top notch instruction from many different coaches. Developing sound skills put me in the right direction to falling in love with the sport of skiing, which pushed me to reach for more later in life.”
Eileen
In October of 2006, Eileen was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to undergo an immediate below knee amputation. As a 48 year old die-hard skier and daily runner, she was devastated. Losing the ability to ski and run was worse than the physical loss of her leg. Today, thanks to Green Mountain Adaptive Sports, she is back on top of the mountain skiing with her prosthetic leg. “Every time I cruise down the mountain, I know I am the happiest person on the mountain,” exclaims Eileen, who is also giving it forward by sitting on the GMAS Board of Directors.