Guild and Team USA Learning Network partnership with Purdue Global enrolls first class of students

Hollermann, a four-time U.S. Paralympian and two-time medalist from Elysian, Minnesota, who plays wheelchair basketball for Team USA, was one of the first athletes to sign up for a degree program at Purdue Global, which is Purdue’s online university for working adults and the preferred online university and degree provider of the Guild and Team USA Learning Network.

Hollermann is praising this new partnership, which will help her and other Team USA members pursue degrees and future career advancements. About 43% of athletes work full or part time in addition to training for athletic competitions.

“As soon as I read the email, I immediately went and applied because I thought it was so cool,” she said. “I think it’s really important that Team USA is offering this new benefit through Guild because it’s important for athletes to have an education so they have something to fall back on. I also think that it’s important for us to learn skills outside of the sport because we can always implement them.”

A member of the educational partnership’s first enrolled class, Hollermann will begin her Purdue Global coursework this fall, following her participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8. She is pursuing a master’s degree in education.

She has been out of school for a while since graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington, and she admits to being hesitant in pursuing a master’s degree — mostly due to her training schedule and the need to ensure that she could successfully balance both sports and school. 

“I need an online school because I live most of the year in Germany. I just have a busy lifestyle, and being a full-time professional athlete, I don’t have the time or flexibility to go to classes. The online part makes it possible for me to do that,” she said. “This is a comeback moment for me because I’ve just been away from school for so long.”

Comebacks aren’t new for Hollermann.

In 2001, when she was 5, her family was involved in a car accident that killed two of her brothers and partially paralyzed her from the waist down. Her family and a dedicated team of medical professionals and therapists helped her relearn to walk and rebuild her strength. Her team kept pushing her, especially encouraging her to explore various sporting activities, including swim therapy and then basketball therapy.

Her commitment, and that of her family, pushed her to become the best she could be. She made Team USA’s Parapan American Games roster in 2011, when she was 15, and then qualified for the London 2012 Paralympic Games at age 16.

“It’s important to be prepared for whatever opportunity arises. You don’t want to look back and wish that you would have done something that you didn’t,” she said. “I don’t think chances like this come back very often.”

Purdue Global Chancellor Frank Dooley is excited that Team USA members like Hollermann are embracing Purdue Global’s online university and degree partnership through the Guild and Team USA Learning Network.

“We’re excited for Rose as she starts a new chapter this fall,” Dooley said. “Purdue Global was built for working adults like Rose — as they balance work, family and pursuing a degree for whatever is next in their lives. We’ll be cheering for her and the other athletes, not only during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, but also during their educational journeys at Purdue Global.”

Purdue Global has been an educational partner with Guild since May 2019. This additional partnership with the Guild and Team USA Learning Network will cover a five-year period. Guild is the leader in opportunity creation for America’s workforce.

Follow Hollermann’s Purdue Global journey on her social channels, including Facebook, Instagram and X.

About Purdue Global 

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.