Five Star Alumna wins gold at Para Pan-American Games

Kylie Brown’s story is one of strength, adaptability and unrelenting determination. An Adams 12 alumna, Kylie attended Hulstrom K-8 for nine years before graduating from Horizon High School, where she also completed three years of behavior health science classes at FutureForward at Bollman. Today, she’s a sophomore at Arizona State University West, pursuing degrees in communication and psychology — and she’s already achieved something few can claim: a gold medal at the Youth Para Pan-American Games.

Kylie’s journey to that podium in Santiago, Chile, began years earlier on a very different field. A talented and driven soccer player, she started playing at a young age and quickly stood out for her leadership, eventually earning the role of team captain. But at age 13, during her seventh-grade year at Hulstrom, Kylie’s life changed drastically when a tragic accident led to the amputation of her right leg above the knee.

The road ahead was anything but easy. Refusing to let her injury define her, Kylie worked tirelessly for a year to return to soccer. Though she ultimately chose to step away from the sport she loved, that decision marked the start of a new chapter, not the end of her athletic journey.

In high school, Kylie discovered sitting volleyball, a sport that would reignite her competitive spirit. Her talent and dedication quickly became evident. During the pandemic, she joined a virtual amputee sports camp, connecting with other adaptive athletes and discovering new opportunities to grow. Her persistence paid off when she was recruited by the USA Sitting Volleyball Development Program, training at the University of Central Oklahoma multiple times a year to hone her skills.

This November, Kylie’s years of effort and resilience culminated in an extraordinary achievement: She was one of only four women selected from the development program to represent the United States at the Youth Para Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile. Competing against elite teams from across the Americas, Team USA battled through intense matches, none more dramatic than their come-from-behind victory against Brazil in the finals to bring home the gold medal.

Cheering her on to victory in Santiago were her parents, sister, brother-in-law and nephews, a true Hulstrom and Adams 12 family. Her sister, an Adams 12 alumna and director at the Five Star Education Foundation, and her nephews, current Hulstrom K-8 students, proudly watched Kylie achieve her dream on the international stage.

Winning gold was more than a personal triumph for Kylie. It was a moment that symbolized every hour of training, every setback overcome and every decision to keep moving forward. Her success is a testament to her perseverance, leadership and the support of the Adams 12 community that helped shape her.

Kylie’s journey from Hulstrom to the international stage serves as a powerful reminder: Setbacks don’t define us; how we respond to them does. 

Her story continues to inspire those around her, and she’s far from finished. With her eyes set on the ultimate goal of competing for Team USA at the Paralympic Games, Kylie is training with the same drive and determination that have carried her this far. Her grit, leadership and unshakable spirit remind us all that even the toughest challenges can become the foundation for something extraordinary.