During the University of Akron Board of Trustees meeting in September, new student trustee Max Pastoria introduced a standout Akron swimmer who recently brought international recognition to the university. Grace Nuhfer, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, spoke about her journey as a student and athlete. “My coach always says that teams that handle adversity the best perform the best,” Nuhfer said.Nuhfer, a senior majoring in data analytics with a focus in marketing, has been a dedicated member of the University of Akron’s swim team. She is also the university’s first Paralympian, recently earning a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:03.88.In June, Nuhfer secured her spot at the Paralympic Games by winning first place in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Trials, clocking in at 1:05.07.Lifelong dream comes true for Akron swimmerCompeting at the Paralympic Games fulfilled a lifelong dream Nuhfer has nurtured since her childhood in Indianapolis, where she swam for Greenwood High School.Despite the challenges posed by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and brittle cornea syndrome, which affect both her joints and vision, Nuhfer embraced swimming at an early age. University of Akron swimmer Grace Nuhfer’s Instagram page shows reactions to her silver medal win at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris in August. (Screenshot via Grace Nuhfer’s Instagram)After moving more than five hours from home to attend the university in 2021, she realized how her disability could impact her life and future.“For the first time in my life, I was faced with a new independence and a reality I was not prepared for,” Nuhfer told board members. “As hard as freshman year may be for any individual, add in being blind and being in an unknown environment with new people who didn’t know your blindness like they did back home.”Nuhfer credited her teammates and coaches at Akron for motivating her through the grueling training sessions that led to her silver-medal performance.“Fortunately for me, I didn’t have to look hard to find new people in a new community,” she said. “The girls here on the team and all the staff welcomed me with open arms and were eager to learn how to best support me.”Akron swimmer hits personal bests in three competitionsAt the Paralympic Games, Nuhfer not only earned her silver medal but also set personal bests in multiple events, including the 200 meter individual medley, 50 meter freestyle, and 100 meter backstroke. Her success at the Parapan American Games and the U.S. Paralympic NationNational Championships leading up to the Paralympics earned her a reputation as one of the top swimmers in her classification.As Nuhfer prepares to compete in more events and wraps up her final year at the University of Akron, she’s already thinking ahead to future competitions.But first, she’ll have some catching up to do in her studies — with a silver medal to show for it.Other meeting updatesThe university anticipates significant benefits from collaborations with the Polymer Industry Cluster, through which it will receive $7.1 million in federal and state funds.It is also predicting benefits from a four-year agreement with the Cleveland Browns that will cost $1.35 million.For the fiscal year ending June 30 the university faced a $22.3 million budget deficit, which was less than the projected $27 million. The board approved a $27.1 million deficit for the fiscal year 2025.While there was a slight decrease in fall enrollment compared to 2023, with 14,813 students enrolled across undergraduate, graduate and law programs, there were positive trends in transfer and master’s student enrollment.The next board meeting is on Dec. 11.Read Documenter Bruce Taylor’s notes here:University of Akron – Board of Trustees Regular Meeting 09_18_2024DownloadThe post University of Akron swimmer recognized with silver medal at 2024 Paralympic Games appeared first on Signal Akron.