Non-alcoholic Beer Pioneer and Olympic Mountain Biker Receive 2025 Alumni Achievement Awards
Two members of Middlebury’s Class of 2005—Bill Shufelt, co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing, and Lea Davison, two-time Olympic mountain biker and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and girls in sports—will receive the College’s Alumni Achievement Award during Reunion Weekend, June 6–8. Launched in 1983, the award is the highest recognition bestowed exclusively on alumni, celebrating exceptional contributions in any field of endeavor.
“We’re proud to recognize Bill and Lea, two extraordinary alumni whose work has had national impact,” said Hannah Burnett ’10, president of the Middlebury Alumni Association. “Bill has transformed the beverage industry, creating a fast-growing market for a healthier, alternative to traditional beer. Lea has inspired a generation of racers—not only through her own achievements on the world stage but also through her work with Little Bellas, helping young women build confidence and community through cycling.”
The Middlebury Alumni Achievement Awards will be presented during Reunion Weekend, June 6–8.
A New Kind of Business
Bill Shufelt majored in economics and played on Middlebury’s football team. After college, he pursued a successful career in finance in New York City. A passionate trail runner and beer lover, Shufelt ultimately left a top hedge fund to launch a brewery focused entirely on non-alcoholic beer.
“Alcohol had become an artificial ceiling on my goals—both professionally and personally—so I stopped drinking,” said Shufelt. “But I still loved enjoying a great beer with friends and family.”
Shufelt saw a gap in the market: no one had created full-flavored, non-alcoholic craft beers for the growing number of Americans who drink infrequently. Athletic Brewing launched in 2018 with a mission to offer adult beverages that didn’t compromise on taste, health, or experience.
Today, Athletic Brewing is the largest non-alcoholic beer brand in the U.S. and one of the country’s top 10 craft breweries. The company has twice been named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies and was ranked the 26th fastest-growing private company in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine in 2022. In 2024, Athletic surpassed $95 million in sales and reached a valuation of $800 million.
A certified B Corporation, Athletic meets the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. Its Two for the Trails program has contributed more than $6 million to protect and restore outdoor spaces.
An Olympian Nurtures the Next Generation
Lea Davison majored in environmental studies with a focus on conservation biology and competed on Middlebury’s varsity ski team and club cycling team. She started mountain biking in high school and launched her racing career in 2001.
Her accomplishments include a silver medal at the 2016 World Championships, a bronze in 2014, and a third-place overall finish in the 2015 World Cup series. Davison also represented the U.S. at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 —experiences she describes as some of the most meaningful in her life.
In 2007, she co-founded Little Bellas with her sister, Sabra Davison Connell ’07. The nonprofit uses mountain biking as a platform to help girls ages 7 to 16 build confidence, community, and life skills.
Little Bellas pairs participants with female mentors in weekly summer sessions and camps, emphasizing skill development, teamwork, and joy in sport. Mentors ride alongside girls in age- and ability-based groups and incorporate games that reinforce each day’s skills. The program has grown from a single location with 12 riders to more than 60 programs across the country and has served nearly 9,000 girls.
“Sports have the power to drive change,” Davison said. “Being an Olympian was an incredible experience—and I want young people to see that it’s possible to be a professional athlete, to be a two-time Olympian, to be gay, and to live a full, authentic life.”