Alyssa
Hi, I’m Alyssa! I’m a University of Arizona graduate with a degree in Leadership Education and a former member of the University of Arizona wheelchair basketball team. Through wheelchair basketball, I discovered not only the power of adaptive sports but also the confidence, community, and opportunities that come with being an adaptive athlete. During my time at the University of Arizona, I was involved in several leadership and advocacy roles, including serving as the College of Education Senator for ASUA. These experiences strengthened my passion for creating opportunities for others and advocating for greater inclusion in sports and education. I am also a recipient of the Kelly Brush Foundation Active Fund Grant, which helped me access adaptive sports equipment and continue pursuing wheelchair basketball. I currently live in Clarksville, Tennessee, where my husband and I are stationed. I occasionally visit Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital and work with United Spinal of Tennessee, where I have the opportunity to connect with and talk to other people with spinal cord injuries. These experiences have deepened my passion for supporting others and showing them that life after a spinal cord injury can still be full of opportunities. I aspire to become an elementary school teacher while continuing to advocate for adaptive athletes and inclusive opportunities. I hope to use my experiences as an adaptive athlete to encourage others with spinal cord injuries to pursue their goals, discover adaptive sports, and recognize what is possible. I’m especially passionate about connecting athletes with resources like the Kelly Brush Foundation so they can access the equipment, opportunities, and support they need to get involved, compete, and thrive.