2025 Liam Hale scholarship awarded to Moretown 10th grader

May 15, 2025  |  By Erin Dezell

Harwood sophomore Claire Nagurney is this year's Liam Kenneth Hale Adventure Scholarship recipient. Courtesy photo

Harwood Union High School has announced that sophomore Claire Nagurney is the recipient of this year’s Liam Kenneth Hale Adventure Scholarship. 

Liam Hale was a passionate skier, mountain biker, and golfer. His exposure to various outdoor sports at Sugarbush Resort made him a confident, adventurous, and outgoing young man. His work experience at the mountain taught him responsibility and was a source of great pride. 

The Hale Family established an adventure scholarship in collaboration with Sugarbush Resort in memory of Liam, who died in 2016. The first award was made in 2019. 

This year, the Liam Kenneth Hale Adventure Scholarship has been awarded to Moretown 10th grader Claire Nagurney. An important member of Harwood’s soccer, alpine ski, and softball teams, Claire was honored to receive this award. “I am incredibly grateful to receive the Liam Hale scholarship to honor Liam's memory by enjoying my high school years through the mountain, just as he did, and in true Vermont fashion,” she said. 

Throughout Claire’s application, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and building a community through shared interests. Her activities and pursuits on the mountain help Claire maintain and build new friendships. 

She also recognizes the healing aspects of spending time in nature. Claire wrote:  “No matter how stressed I am about school, relationships, etc., the second I get onto the mountain, none of that matters anymore. Even if it’s just for a few hours, the feeling of the cold air in my lungs and the speed and freedom that my skis hold underneath me never fails to make me feel vastly better.”

The Liam Kenneth Hale Adventure Scholarship provides a Harwood High School student with the opportunity to learn the skills, virtues, and passion Liam gained during the many joyous days he spent at Sugarbush. This scholarship is awarded annually on May 9, Liam’s birthday, to a student completing grade 10. 

The recipient receives a Sugarbush Four Season Pass, which provides access to unlimited skiing/riding, golf, mountain biking, scenic lift rides, and yearlong Sugarbush Health & Recreation Center access. Valued at more than $3,000, the pass includes additional benefits such as half-off day tickets at participating Mountain Collective Resorts; lesson, lodging, tuning and rental discounts; and golf discounts. An equipment allowance is determined for the scholarship recipient as well.

Those wishing to contribute to this scholarship in memory of Liam can send donations made to The Liam Kenneth Hale Adventure Scholarship and mailed to the Harwood Unified Union School District central office, 340 Mad River Park, Waitsfield, VT 05672.

Erin Dezell is a school counselor at Harwood Union Middle-High School.