Sept. 04, 2024 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo The U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team is a step closer to a record third straight gold medal. Led by Illini Paralympians Steve Serio and Brian Bell, Team USA routed France 82-47 on Wednesday in Paris. Serio and Bell each had seven assists as Team USA had 34 assists total […]
Category: Disability Resources & Educational Services
DRES alumni unite to help students
Jan. 15, 2024 | Ethan Simmons Former Illini wheelchair athletes have helped fund scholarship for the next generation of adaptive sports stars In the heat of an Illinois men’s wheelchair basketball season, intense morning practices roll into sociable team meals and lively late-night gaming sessions. The hours spent between busy student-athlete schedules—on buses and in […]
AHS honors four outstanding alumni
Jan. 15, 2024 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo In 2023, the College of Applied Health Sciences chose four AHS graduates to receive alumni awards. These awards serve as a testament to the unwavering dedication and great contributions of our graduates. Young Alumni AwardMichael LeachRecreation, Sport and Tourism Michael Leach was appointed as the first-ever chief diversity and […]
Believing the Impossible: Illinois wheelchair athlete Hoda Elshorbagy overcame the odds
April 17, 2025 | Jonathan King Hoda Elshorbagy’s journey from rural Egypt to central Illinois was an unlikely story, a path littered with numerous obstacles. By JONATHAN KING In her home in southern Egypt, Hoda Elshorbagy glanced at the TV, then turned to her father with clear-eyed conviction and said, “One day, I’m going to […]
Men’s wheelchair basketball wins opener in Paris Games
August 30, 2024 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Illinois alum Steve Serio had a triple-double as the U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team began its pursuit of a third straight Paralympics gold medal with a 66-56 win over Spain on Thursday in Paris. Serio, who has helped lead Team USA to gold the past two Paralympics, had 12 […]
DRES alum’s posthumous gift takes spotlight: ‘I don’t think she ever forgot her debt’
The family of Susan J. Chaplinsky sits on her memorial bench in the center of the Disability Resources and Educational Services building. Her siblings Kathy, Amy, Molly and Pete sat with her plaque.
NIWBT didn’t result in titles, but Illinois again showcases its adaptive sports programs
March 31, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo This year marked the 76th anniversary of the first NIWBT The University of Illinois and Illinois Wheelchair Athletics played host last week to the 47th Annual National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and even though neither Illini team took home a title, the event at the State Farm Center was […]
Fritz: ‘Fitting In Is Overrated’
May 22, 2023 | Janasia Phillips From as young as seven years old, Kevin Fritz knew something was different. But the alum of the College of Applied Health Sciences never saw different as a negative. From as young as seven years old, Kevin Fritz knew something was different. He had spent the past three months in the […]
Men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball to play for gold in Paris
Sept. 06, 2024 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Team USA’s wheelchair basketball teams have two shots at gold this weekend. Illinois alum Brian Bell had 31 points as the Team USA men overcame an early deficit to beat Canada 80-43 Friday to advance to the gold medal game of the Paralympics in Paris. The American men will […]
Illini athletes lead the way for Team USA
Sept. 1, 2024 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo In a big night for wheelchair racing and jumps, Americans—led by athletes from the University of Illinois—brought home five medals in front of another electric crowd at the Stáde de France in Paris. Illini Paralympians Susannah Scaroni, Brian Siemann and Daniel Romanchuk all brought home bronze in their wheelchair […]