Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports has named Program Director Felicia Fowler as the recipient of the 2025 Kellen Sams Memorial Leadership Award, recognizing her steady leadership, deep commitment to inclusion and lasting impact on the organization and the community it serves.
The award honors the legacy of Kellen Sams, an outdoor educator whose life and career were defined by compassion, access and a belief in the power of shared outdoor experiences. Fowler, who joined Vermont Adaptive eight years ago, was selected for her quiet strength, professional excellence and dedication to leading with integrity.
“This award is rooted in Kellen’s belief that everyone deserves access to meaningful outdoor experiences,” said Christine Parsons, Kellen’s mother and part of the nomination committee. “Felicia exemplifies that belief every day through her leadership and her care for the people she serves.”
Fowler began her career at Vermont Adaptive as a program coordinator and steadily grew into her current role as program director. She holds a Master’s in Therapeutic Recreation Administration from UNH as well as a Bachelor’s in Recreation Management & Policy. Colleagues and volunteers describe her leadership style as calm, consistent and deeply effective.
In a nomination letter, a longtime volunteer wrote, “Felicia has consistently demonstrated a stable and quiet, yet extremely effective, demeanor over the years. She is a huge part of the foundation of the organization. She is never flustered despite the circumstances. I have always been able to turn to her for guidance and leadership, and she offers it with warmth and respect.”
Whether working on snow, water or trails, Fowler is known for creating environments where participants feel confident, capable and connected. She holds certifications in adaptive snowboarding, paddleboarding and mountain biking, and regularly shares her knowledge through instruction and presentations throughout Vermont and beyond.
Her commitment to professional development and mentorship has helped strengthen programs across the organization while supporting the growth of staff and volunteers alike.
“Felicia leads by listening, teaching and doing,” the nomination continued. “From her first day, it was clear she brought both skill and heart to this work. She has grown into an invaluable leader.”
Sams was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1982 and later attended Green Mountain College in Poultney. Through his involvement with the Green Mountain Adventure Program, he found his calling as an outdoor leader and educator. He graduated in 2006 with a self-designed degree in outdoor experiential education.
His career included work with Outward Bound, wildlife management along the Appalachian Trail and adaptive ski instruction at Crested Butte Resort in Colorado. He was especially proud of completing New Hampshire’s Presidential Traverse in a single day. Sams later worked at Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs, where he provided outdoor recreation and educational opportunities to service members and their families.
In February 2010, Sams died in an avalanche while backcountry skiing in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Following his death, his family established a scholarship fund at Green Mountain College in his honor. When the college closed, the fund was brought to Vermont Adaptive with the support of former Managing Director Maggie Burke, ensuring that Sams’ values and spirit would continue to shape future leaders.
The Kellen Sams Memorial Leadership Award reflects those values, recognizing individuals who demonstrate humility, dedication and a deep commitment to inclusive outdoor education.
For more information about Vermont Adaptive and the Kellen Sams Memorial Leadership Award, visit vermontadaptive.org.