About Us
It was against the background described in a December 2022 Centre Daily Times article (see Learn More below) that Rise Above, Friends of Ability Athletics PSU was conceived and created earlier in that year. Involved alumni, donors and key stakeholders in Penn State’s Ability Athletics program were becoming increasingly concerned that the University’s once nationally and internationally recognized program for Penn State’s disabled student population and elite adaptive athletes was on the verge of becoming irrelevant or worse, non-existent. Rise Above is an independent, 501c3, not for profit, purpose driven organization staffed by volunteers and established to support Penn State's Ability Athletics program. Its charter is to work collaboratively with the Ability Athletics’ staff and administration to restore and revitalize this once highly successful Penn State program. The Ability Athletics program had been put on pause for nearly 3 years due to the pandemic . The program also was in transition due to the retirement of Coach Teri Jordan who served as the program’s first and only coach and program administrator for two decades. Rise Above is comprised of a 12-member Board of Advisors, a Board Chairman and a Liaison serving as the interface with Ability Athletics administration. Its Board is made up of members possessing a wide array of professional and personal skills and life experiences and includes a Penn State University Board of Trustee Emeritus, a former NCAA Track and Field Coach, a long-standing employee of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, highly successful business people, former Ability Athletics athletes and Paralympians and distinguished, retired U.S. Navy officers.
All share a common love for Penn State and a true passion for Penn State’s Ability Athletics program.
