The first-ever Jimmy LeSage Memorial Scholarship, a $2,500 award created to honor the life and legacy of wellness pioneer Jimmy LeSage, has been awarded to Brycen Gandin, a graduating senior at Rutland Senior High School. Brycen, a resident of Mendon, can use the scholarship toward the college of his choice this coming academic year.
Brycen was selected by the scholarship committee for his sincere and thoughtful essay that reflected a personal and introspective understanding of wellness, according to a statement from the committee, April 30. “Brycen exemplified the qualities that echoed the mission behind New Life Hiking Spa. The creativity of his essay brings one into a deeply personal, reflective moment that felt more like a scene from a memoir. His story of a personal hiking experience was incredibly heartfelt, well written, and was what Jimmy wanted the guests to experience while at New Life Hiking Spa,” the committee wrote in a news release.
This scholarship was established in 2024 following the passing of Jimmy LeSage, founder of the nationally recognized New Life Hiking Spa & Wellness Retreat in Killington. For over 40 years, Jimmy guided thousands of guests toward healthier lives through hiking, nutrition, mindfulness, and connection with nature. The retreat grew from just 12 guests a season in 1978 to over 1,000 guests a season as it celebrated its 40th anniversary. New Life Hiking Spa was consistently listed as one of the top wellness retreats in the world and was even featured on the Today Show when it won the #1 Destination Spa in America by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
LeSage’s approach to wellness was one grounded in simplicity, whole foods, hiking, bodywork, and the healing power of the mountains. New Life Hiking Spa was open in Killington each May–September, and there were also winter retreats in Tortola and Nicaragua during various years. Most of New Life’s employees came from Rutland and Windsor counties.
“Jimmy had a gift for helping people reconnect with themselves and with nature to live a healthier lifestyle,” said Kathleen LeSage, his wife. “This scholarship is a way to keep that spirit alive and to invest in young people who share his values. This scholarship is to recognize a student in the same region where Jimmy built his life’s work as a way to give back, which I know he would want.”
The Jimmy LeSage Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually each May to a graduating high school senior from Rutland or Windsor County who plans to pursue a 2- or 4-year college degree and who demonstrates a passion for wellness and a meaningful connection to the outdoors.
