Melinda Chappell
2015
Melinda dedicated her life and career to the advancement of adaptive sports, therapeutic recreation, and inclusive physical education — blending professional expertise, leadership, and compassion to create life-changing opportunities for people with disabilities.
A proud Clemson University graduate, Melinda earned her bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation in 1982 and later received her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Carolina in 1998. She began her professional career as a Certified Recreation Specialist at Charter Rivers Hospital in Columbia (1983–1988), where she first became involved in organized wheelchair sports through Wheelchair Sports USA and the Southeast Wheelchair Sports Association (SEWSA).
From that introduction, her commitment to adaptive athletics became a lifelong passion. Beginning in 1995, Melinda joined the Dixie Wheelchair Sports organization as both Meet Director for the Southeastern Regional Wheelchair Games and as a member of the SEWSA Board of Directors. Her organizational skill and vision helped elevate SEWSA into one of the most athlete-friendly and educational regional competitions in the nation. She also represented the movement nationally as the Regional Representative for Adaptive Sports USA (2015–2018).
Melinda’s entrepreneurial and service-oriented spirit led her to co-found two nonprofits — Coastal Adaptive Sports and Limitless Sports — expanding access to recreation and competition for athletes with disabilities. Her leadership extended to officiating and professional development as well: she served as a USATF official at Junior Nationals (2010 and 2012) and attended the Paralympic Leadership Conference in 2011 to strengthen her advocacy and leadership in adaptive sport governance.
Her professional roles consistently reflected her dual focus on inclusion and empowerment. As Special Services Coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, she developed aquatic, recreation, and fitness programs designed to improve quality of life for individuals with disabilities. In recognition of her outstanding service to the community, she was named Outstanding Volunteer of the Year (2000) by the Columbia Mayor’s Committee.
In addition to her work in recreation and rehabilitation, Melinda was also an educator, serving as an Adjunct Professor at Coastal Carolina University beginning in 2012. She taught Recreation for Persons with Disabilities, inspiring a new generation of professionals to approach adaptive sports with the same integrity and enthusiasm that defined her own career.
Melinda had a remarkable ability to mobilize community support, securing sponsorships and partnerships with businesses in North Myrtle Beach to sustain and grow the SEWSA Games. Her leadership made the Southeastern Regional Games one of the most welcoming and supportive meets for first-time athletes, known for its atmosphere of mentorship, encouragement, and camaraderie. Many athletes she welcomed as newcomers went on to become Paralympians, later returning to volunteer and mentor others — a lasting testament to the inclusive culture she helped create.
A proud Clemson alumna, Melinda also played an instrumental role in helping the university establish its Adaptive Sports program. In 2019, she oversaw the relocation of the SEWSA Games to Clemson University, ensuring continuity of the event while expanding its reach. She worked hand in hand with the university’s Adaptive Physical Education program, ensuring that the move served both the athletes and the broader mission of inclusivity.
Through decades of service, teaching, and leadership, Melinda built bridges between education, rehabilitation, and sport. Her legacy lives on in the countless athletes, students, and colleagues she empowered — and in the communities she strengthened through her unwavering belief that sports can transform lives.