PD News

Wyoming Area student and alpine ski racer training for the Paralympics, Stephanie Jallen, will be one of First Lady Michelle Obama’s invited guests on Tuesday, February 9, in Washington, D.C.

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Stephanie Jallen displays her three medals from the Hudson Cup ski competition in Park City, Utah. She won two-gold medals in

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The First Lady will unveil her nationwide campaign to combat childhood obesity. Stephanie’s mother Deb will be escorting her to D.C. as special guests of the United States Olympic Committee.

An eighth grade high honors student at Wyoming Area, Stephanie was born without a left leg and an underdeveloped left arm due to a birth defect called CHILD syndrome. She has become an accomplished downhill skier and an inspiration to others dealing with similar difficulties. While training to make the U.S. Paralympic team in Colorado, she once was asked to speak to amputees from the Iraq war who were inspired by her courage and determination.

Mrs. Obama will be joined by members of the President’s cabinet, as well as media, sports, entertainment, and business leaders, alongside mayors, the medical community, and others to announce the elements of the nationwide campaign, which will put us on track to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation. Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled; nearly one third of children in America are now overweight or obese.

In addition to her trip to the White House, Stephanie has been invited, along with only 12-other Paralympic hopefuls, to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, next month.

Stephanie said she is honored and very grateful to be part of these wonderful opportunities and is extremely excited for both trips.