Celebrating Our 2025 Outdoor Lab Foundation Scholarship Recipients

The Outdoor Lab Foundation is honored to support three outstanding students who have demonstrated exceptional growth and dedication through Outdoor Lab's High School Leader and Internship programs. This year, we are proud to recognize Asha Federico from Lakewood High School, Katelyn Maloney from Dakota Ridge High School, and Heidi Heivilin from Columbine High School as our 2025 scholarship recipients. Their experiences and reflections underscore the profound impact of Outdoor Lab on our high school students and recent graduates.

Ms. Federico

Asha's time as a High School leader reenforced her values of creating belonging, having empathy and ensuring all voices are heard. After wrangling 11-year-olds for a week, she writes that, "At Outdoor Lab, I realized leadership isn’t about enforcing rules—it’s about adapting with compassion. Now, I lead by offering the first notes and stepping back, letting others shape the melody." Asha intends to attend UC Berkely, become a writer and through biographical storytelling, "...dismantle stigma and help "othered" voices feel seen, valued and understood." 

Ms. Maloney

For Katelyn, interning at Windy Peak was an opportunity to find purpose. She reflects on one week at Outdoor Lab where almost all of the sixth-graders were immigrants. She heard stories of overcoming trauma, but also witnessed kids being kids. This exposure to various walks of life influenced her aspirations to be an immigration lawyer. Katelyn concludes, "Ultimately, I feel that Outdoor Lab has taught me to be a person who prioritizes community and people's well-being over anything else." She is attending Colorado State University to study political science.    

Ms. Heivilin

Heidi describes her time as a High School Leader at Outdoor Lab as one of her favorite parts of her high school experience. Each visit taught her something new about life, about herself, and about being a good steward of the earth. These lessons in environmental stewardship inspired Heidi to pursue a career in conservation science. She plans to attend the University of Montana, where she'll major in Forestry with a minor in Education, hoping to teach others about forests while giving back to the environment.

Thank You For Your Support!

The transformative experiences of Asha, Katelyn, and Heidi are a testament to the power of Outdoor Lab. We are immensely grateful for your unwavering support of the program, which makes these opportunities possible. Your contributions not only fund scholarships but also foster the personal and emotional growth of students who will go on to make a significant difference in the world. You are building a brighter future,

one student at a time. 

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