We are proud to partner with Angel Fire Ski Patrol to offer the Leah Patterson Memorial Scholarship
There are 5 $625 scholarships available. Applications open by the end of October 2026. You choose what you would like to use the scholarship for!
Boy howdy, this babe wasn’t just an ember; she was a wildfire of light and laughter. Leah always said her favorite hobby was “makin’ friends,” and she wrapped people in warmth. You could always find Leah styling down rapids, roped up to a climb, carving fresh lines down untouched snow. Leah lived life big; wild, untamed, and deeply alive.
She was a force for other women – uplifting them, empowering them, celebrating their wins like they were her own. Leah wasn’t intimidated by limits – she shattered them and then turned around to show you how to do it too.
Beneath that golden glow was a woman of grit and steel. Leah wasn’t just kind; she was courageous. Leah was a Type 1 diabetic, and she advocated for her fellow T1s ardently. She created solace and community for other T1s and carved pathways for them to flourish alongside her.
She was a force for other women, uplifting them, empowering them, and celebrating their wins like they were her own. Leah wasn’t intimidated by limits. She shattered them, and then turned around to show you how to do it too. Leah didn’t just endure; she transcended.
Her physical power was matched solely by her emotional depth. You could count on her for a hug that outlasted your sadness, words that mended your soul, or a silence that understood more than advice ever could. When life demanded fierceness, she met it with a tenacious spirit, never backing down and never letting anything or anyone shrink her presence.
She embodied opposites made beautiful. Soft yet unbreakable, grounded yet wildly free. She was sunshine spilling over canyon rims, powerful rivers carving through ancient stone, dreamy powder days with their big, fluffy, and quiet flakes. She was a disco cowgirl under a desert sky, a deep belly laugh, and a mug of tea by the crackling fire.
Leah Rae Patterson didn’t just walk through this world; she danced. Through her love, her fire, her unshakable spirit, she etched her name into the lives she touched, and she’ll never be forgotten.
With this scholarship dedicated to this amazing gal we loved, we hope to continue her unwavering support of women while honoring her badass ski patrolling. Our goal is to help current and future women ski patrollers reach their ambitions. Whether that is avalanche courses, ropes courses, EMT, or other medical training, we want to help them achieve their goals and get more women in these fields. If Leah’s scholarship resonates with your aspirations, or if you have another use that aligns with uplifting women, please apply!
We look forward to reading your responses and helping more women create space in ski patrol.
– Friends of Leah
