Rise Above:
Friends of Penn State Adaptive Athletics
Rise Above:
Friends of Penn State Adaptive Athletics
News & Updates
Rise Above Athletes Set Records as National Competition Approaches
Max Malec, Lucas Resch, and Esther-Faith Henn set personal bests, season bests, and a meet record at the GLASA Great Lakes Games. Read about their results and how they're gearing up for nationals. ...more
Athlete Spotlight
July 05, 2026•2 min read
Meet Coach Samantha McMinn
Meet Coach Samantha McMinn, assistant coach of the Penn State Adaptive Athletics Wheelchair Basketball Team ...more
Athlete Spotlight ,Program Updates
July 05, 2026•1 min read
Rise Above Featured on WTAJ's Studio 814
Rise Above and the WE ARE FAMILY event got the spotlight on WTAJ's Studio 814, previewing the full July 25 lineup and giving Penn Staters another reason to get involved before the big night. ...more
Program Updates
June 29, 2026•1 min read
Penn State Student Media Spotlights Zane Hummel
Zane Hummel was on track to compete at Penn State when a motorcycle accident changed everything. Penn State Student Media's "After the Whistle" tells his story. ...more
Athlete Spotlight
June 01, 2026•1 min read
Where Innovation Meets Grit: A Visit to Xmorphe
Penn State adaptive athletes Jack Cunningham and Zane Hummel visited Xmorphe, a State College prosthetics company pushing the boundaries of what's possible in human movement. What started as lunch tur... ...more
Athletes
May 27, 2026•2 min read
We Are....Family
Why Penn State legends, alumni, and families show up for Rise Above. Deborah Kevin looks at the people, the purpose, and the 2026 fundraiser keynoted by Terry Smith. ...more
Program Updates
April 20, 2026•7 min read
Our Athletes
Jack Cunningham '29
Springfield, PA
Angel Guzman '29
Los Angeles, CA
Max Malec '29
Scranton, PA
Esther-Faith Henn '28
Grove City, OH
Lucas Resch '29
Sterling, CO
Brenna O'Connor
Cold Spring, NY
Director of
Penn State
Adaptive Athletics
Samantha McMinn
Conowingo, MD
Assistant Wheelchair Basketball Coach
Penn State
Adaptive Athletics
Our Athletes
Jack Cunningham '29
Springfield, PA
Angel Guzman '29
Los Angeles, CA
Max Malec '29
Scranton, PA
Esther-Faith Henn '28
Grove City, OH
Lucas Resch '29
Sterling, CO
Brenna O'Connor
Cold Spring, NY
Director of
Penn State Adaptive Athletics
Samantha McMinn
Mount Joy, PA
Assistant Wheelchair Basketball Coach
Samantha McMinn
Conowingo, MD
Assistant Wheelchair Basketball Coach
Penn State Adaptive Athletics
Our Former Athletes & Coaches
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
- Michael Jordan
Jeff Hantz '04
Track & Field
"Believe you can and you are halfway there.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
Rohan Murphy '06
Powerlifting
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t you’re right.”
- Henry Ford
Maggie Redden '07
Track & Field
“All limitations are self-imposed.”
- Oliver Wendall Holmes
Kortney Clemons '08
Track & Field
“He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity.”
- William Samuel Johnson
Jake Schrom '11
Powerlifting
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
- John Wooden
Teri Jordan
Past Coach of Penn State Ability Athletics
Our Former Athletes
& Coaches
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
- Michael Jordan
Jeff Hantz '04
Track & Field
"Believe you can and you are halfway there.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
Rohan Murphy '06
Powerlifting
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t you’re right.”
- Henry Ford
Maggie Redden '07
Track & Field
“All limitations are self-imposed.”
- Oliver Wendall Holmes
Kortney Clemons '08
Track & Field
“He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity.”
- William Samuel Johnson
Jake Schrom '11
Powerlifting
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
- John Wooden
Teri Jordan
Past Coach of Penn State Ability Athletics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I learn more about how to get involved?
E-mail [email protected] and someone from our Board will get in touch!
How do I make a donation to Rise Above: Friends of Penn State Adaptive Athletics?
You can make a donation by clicking here.
If you'd like to discuss a large gift, please reach out to our Director of Fundraising, Joe Clouse, at [email protected]
I'm an Adaptive Athlete interested in Penn State. Who should I contact?
E-mail [email protected] and someone from our Board will get in touch!
What kind of sports does Penn State Adaptive Athletics offer?
Our primary programs currently include Track & Field and Wheelchair Basketball. Additionally, our athletes frequently participate in Sled Hockey through the State College Coyotes. We are always looking to grow and are happy to explore new sports to meet the interests of our community.
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Rise Above is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN: 92-1910039