Paralympic great Waddell earns Legacy Scholarship

Seven-time U.S. Paralympian Chris Waddell of Park City, Utah, has been awarded a grant from the 2002 Winter Games Legacy Scholarship. The Legacy Scholarship was started after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SEVEN-TIME U.S. Paralympian Chris Waddell of Park City, Utah, has been awarded a grant from the 2002 Winter Games Legacy Scholarship. The Legacy Scholarship was started after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
    The USOC 2002 Olympic Winter Games Legacy Scholarship is intended to help offset the academic costs for current winter or summer athletes training and going to school in the state of Utah, as well as to assist 2002 Olympians and Paralympians who are attending school in Utah or any other state.
    “The scholarship makes a big difference,” Waddell said. “It’s a nice benefit for the hard work that we’ve put in and gives us a big start in going forward after that. It’s about capitalizing on the experiences we’ve had as athletes and complementing that with some of the academic studies as well.”
    Waddell is a four-time Paralympian in the sport of alpine skiing and a 12-time Paralympic Winter Games medalist, including five golds. In addition, Waddell has won 32 national titles.
    Waddell has also competed in three Paralympic Games in the sport of track and field, and was a silver medalist in the 200-meter dash at the 2000 Paralympics Games in Sydney, Australia. He also has 17 titles in track and field and holds American records in his classification at 200, 400 and 800 meters.
    Waddell is working on an MBA at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Waddell, who expects to graduate in May 2009, said the grant will be very beneficial and will help him continue this great experience.
    “I’ve learned a lot from the professors and the other students,” Waddell said. “It’s different being back in school after all this time, but it’s a great learning experience and it certainly complements the knowledge I gained as an athlete.”
    Legacy Scholarship applications are accepted, reviewed and awarded twice a year.