Senior chemistry major Jeff Snell's first choice for college was not Ball State University.
When Snell was in high school he was accepted to the Air Force Academy but broke his back in a car accident.
Snell said he started Ball State in the spring but missed nine weeks of class throughout the year so he could travel to Russia for stem cell procedures.
Coping with being in a wheelchair was simplified because he was older and met people on campus who shared his interests like body building, he said.
Snell posed for Mr. Ball State, a body building competition, in the past and he will continue in the competition this year.
"I enjoyed it and I do it for other body building shows not affiliated with the university," Snell said.
Snell continued his involvement on campus by taking over Thursday Night Recreation after the faculty member heading it retired.
Larry Markle, director of disabled student development, said Thursday Night Rec. was a program that provided athletic opportunities for students with disabilities. He said the students in chairs competed against able-bodied students who can borrow chairs in sports such as wheelchair basketball, soccer and baseball.
Thursday Night Rec. was a way to get the friends of disabled students to play sports from a wheelchair and see things from a different perspective, Snell added.
"Last year we played a lot of soccer," Snell said. "The Power Soccer team branched off from that."
Because of Snell's leadership and classroom excellence, he was named the recipient of the Max Adamson award, an annual award given to a senior with a disability, Markle said.
Markle said Snell knew and understood the nature of the disabled student office's operation.
"I feel confident that people who contact the office will get good, accurate information from Jeff," Markle said. "He has also been instrumental in helping new wheelchair users get acclimated to campus and is a good role model."
Snell said Ball State has been accessible for students in wheelchairs, Snell said.
"I've been to Purdue and IU," Snell said. "BSU is the hands down winner in accessibility."
The university does a good job to help disabled students, Snell said. He said when there was heavy snow, it was quickly cleaned up allowing him to get to class.
Snell said he felt normal on campus.
"I go to other places and people stare," he said. "Who's the kid at Wal-Mart in the wheelchair?"
Snell said he was glad he chose to come to Ball State and would never have majored in chemistry had he not.
Snell will graduate this May and plans to attend medical school. He said after looking at numerous x-rays and MRIs, he decided to be a radiologist.
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