Melinda Chappell
Contributor | 2015
Hometown: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
School Name: Clemson University
Melinda graduated from Clemson University in 1982 with a specialty in Therapeutic Recreation and received her Master of Rehab Counseling in 1998 from the Univ. of South Carolina. She began her career as a Certified Recreation Specialist at Charter Rivers Hospital in Columbia (1983-1988). While there she became involved with organized wheelchair sports: Wheelchair Sports USA and Southeast Wheelchair Sports Assoc.
Melinda was involved in the Dixie Wheelchair Sports organization beginning in 1995 as both the meet director for the Southeastern Regional Wheelchair Games and on the board of SEWSA, Additionally she was the Regional Rep. for Adaptive Sports USA from 2015 –2018. Melinda was the co-founder of two non-profits for sports for disabled: Coastal Adaptive Sports, and Limitless Sports. She was a USATF official for Junior Nationals in 2010 and 2012. In 2011 she attended the Paralympic Leadership Conference to further the leadership she gave to SEWSA for so many years.
As the Special Services Coordinator with the SC Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, she developed aquatic, recreation and
fitness programs for persons with disabilities. In 2000 she was named the ‘Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by the Columbia Mayor’s Committee. Melinda was also an Adjunct Professor at Coastal Carolina Univ. since 2012, teaching the course Recreation for Persons with Disabilities.
Her ability to engage people in her mission was demonstrated by how she was able to garner the support of businesses in North Myrtle Beach to support the Games. One of her most outstanding achievements was to make the SEWSA Games the most welcoming meet for newcomers. The combination of teaching and encouragement for new athletes was evident in how many first timers went on to have a long and successful career in wheelchair sports, including competing in the Paralympics. Many returned to continue to support SEWSA even though the level of competition was not what they have achieved. The veteran athletes mentored and held clinics to help new athletes.
Melinda was a staunch supporter of Clemson University and helped with their formation of an Adaptive Sports program. In 2019 she supported the move of the SEWSA Games to Clemson, continuing to be meet director and helping the director of the new Adaptive Physical Education program to insure continuity of the Games. The selfless move was to hold the games in a more central location, gain the support of a University and be able to hold the games later in the year.
