Isabel Wang ’26 unlocked a new passion when she laced up her first pair of ice skates as a young child, and she’s been a figure skater and coach ever since. She’s now spreading her love for skating across Rice and Houston in a new way.
“After seeing the challenges that a close friend with Autism Spectrum Disorder faced, I joined a therapeutic skating program in my hometown of Great Neck, New York,” says Isabel, who is majoring in health sciences as a pathway to a career in public health and medicine. “I knew that when I came to Rice, I wanted to bring adaptive skating to Rice and the Houston community.”
As a freshman this year, she founded and serves as the executive director of the Adaptive Skating HTX program, which encourages children with disabilities to develop independence and confidence while being physically active. Their first session recently started at Ice at the Galleria, with 18 students and 11 instructors.
“As soon as I got to Rice, everybody was so supportive of this program. So many people have helped me along the way, from Rice’s Disabilities Resource Center to the directors at Ice at the Galleria and our club advisors,” she says.
“I chose Rice because I knew that Rice encourages a remarkable culture of care within their student body,” Isabel says. “I’m really impressed by how much support Rice gives their students, in so many ways, including scholarships that make it possible for so many talented students to be here and have incredible opportunities.”
With generous support from the Rice Annual Fund, the university continues to offer Sarah and other Owls the best in financial aid, residential college life, student activities, teaching and research. Learn more about how your gift to the Rice Annual Fund can make an impact.
