Nothing can keep Jamie MoCrazy (’19) down. The freestyle skier recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro, an extraordinary feat on its own. It's even more remarkable considering that in 2015, Jamie suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) following a serious accident at the World Tour Finals in Whistler, Canada.
The accident caused Jamie to enter a coma, and doctors reported that her chance of survival was slim. After 10 days, Jamie woke up and had to contend with a long recovery. She had to relearn to read, walk, swallow, and speak—not to mention the emotional toll of the accident.
During recovery, she got the idea to look at climbing as an “alternative peak”—a new challenge that she could work towards in her recovery and that would allow her to continue enjoying and recreating in the mountains.
“As you encounter an unexpected trauma in your life and things change, you’re caught in a metaphorical avalanche that slides you down to the bottom of life. And you have two choices: you can stay stuck at the bottom, or you can choose to climb an alternative peak,” Jamie told The New York Times.
After training with friends and family around Salt Lake City, Jamie summited the mountain with her mother in July 2026, which was a full-circle moment since her mother was her primary caretaker following her injury. She credits Westminster University with giving her skills that she used in the climb.
"During my time as a student at Westminster University, I got to go winter camping. That aided me tremendously in my ability to understand how to keep warm on the nights at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro," she says.
Now, Jamie runs her nonprofit MoCrazy Strong, an organization dedicated to supporting TBI survivors. She has also started working with the tour company Kilisherpas to give those recovering from TBIs the chance to summit Mount Kilimanjaro and explore the surrounding region. She hopes that survivors can feel the same joy that she felt when she reached the summit.
As Jamie told The New York Times, “You set these goals and you set this dream, and then by taking a step and a step and a step, you reach the summit. And you’re so high up — you’re so high, and you just can look down on everything.”
Jamie now serves on the Alumni Board of Directors at Westminster University, giving back to the community through service. "Westminster allows students to live adventurous lives and instills in you the belief that you can accomplish your goals. I think it's important to give back to organizations that shaped your life so others have the opportunities you love. That's why I am on the Alumni Board of Directors."
