SUNY Chancellor wishes SUNY Adirondack alumna well in Paralympics

ALBANY, New York (March 6, 2026) — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today highlighted SUNY Adirondack alumna Kelsey O'Driscoll, Class of 2019, who will participate in the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games as part of the U.S. Paralympic Alpine team.

“The strength and resilience of Team USA’s Paralympians are shown through their hard work and dedication to their individual sports,” SUNY Chancellor King said. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate SUNY alumna Kelsey O’Driscoll as she represents both Team USA and SUNY in the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.”

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “The Paralympic Games bring together amazing athletes to showcase their talent and strength on the world stage. We are proud of Kelsey O’Driscoll and wish her luck while she represents Team USA and Team SUNY at the Winter Paralympic Games this year.”

O’Driscoll graduated from SUNY Adirondack in 2019 and became a registered nurse to help others and make a positive impact. While sledding with her family in 2021, O’Driscoll sustained a spinal injury that required her to relearn how to walk. She was determined to return to nursing, and, along the way, relearned her love of skiing as a four-tracker, or someone who uses two traditional skis as well as two hand-held outriggers with small skis.

She is a nurse at Albany Medical Center and a member of ski patrol at Gore Mountain, where she skied regularly when a student at SUNY Adirondack.

Photo caption: SUNY Adirondack alumna Kelsey O'Driscoll, Class of 2019, was commencement speaker. The nurse will represent the U.S. on the Paralympic Alpine team at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, which start today.