Spring Break
Area Special Olympics seek volunteers
Student organization attempts to break stereotypes through
By: Melissa Appel
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: News
Aggie Special Olympics Texas Volunteers (ASOTV) are asking Aggies to step up and participate April 3 and 4 as College Station has the Special Olympics Texas Area 6 Spring Games.
The Area Spring Games is an annual event that will include more than 300 athletes participating in track and field events such as long jump, javelin, shot put, softball throw and long distance track. ASOTV is in its first year as a Texas A&M student organization, and this event was directly connected to its creation.
"College Station has been hosting the Area Spring Games for several years and yet there never seemed to be enough volunteers at the event," said Laquita Alexander, senior theatre major and ASOTV community outreach chairwoman. "We believe A&M students are willing to help, but they just don't know help is even needed. ASOTV was designed to fix this problem and make A&M students aware of the opportunities to volunteer with Special Olympics right here in Bryan-College Station."
There are seven Special Olympics teams in the Bryan-College Station area, which ASOTV supports with volunteers and fundraising. The Spring Games will draw athletes and teams from throughout the Heart of East Texas Region.
The event will be at College Station Middle School. The weekend will begin with long distance running on Friday afternoon and sporting events will continue through Saturday afternoon.
The Spring Games include social events with athlete and volunteer interaction. On Friday, athletes will gather for the Victory Dance at 7 p.m., where everyone is invited to join in the festivities. Throughout the weekend, Athletic Village will offer crafts, games and entertainment for the athletes between their events.
"The Victory Dance is one of my favorite aspects of Special Olympics," said Bre Cleary, campus relations chairwoman and junior communication major. "Everyone, athletes, non-athletes, parents and friends come together and dance the night away."
Volunteer opportunities are abundant throughout the two-day event. Volunteers can keep time for events, be a buddy for one athlete or work at Athletic Village. Regardless of the task, ASOTV members attest that the experience will positively affect participants.
"By either helping us set up, clean up, giving out awards to the athletes, timing, measuring or simply acting as buddies, there is always something to do and memories to be made that will last a lifetime," Cleary said.
Previous volunteers said it is the individual time with each athlete that leaves a lasting impact on the volunteer.
"There is something for me to learn from every athlete I meet, whether it is their passion, compassion, or joyful outlook, and I love the experience of meeting so many unique individuals," said senior kinesiology major and ASOTV Treasurer Vanna Stotts. "ASOTV has taught me lessons in diversity and compassion. I wish I could be half as accepting and loving as some of the athletes I have met are to everyone they encounter."
With events placing the national Special Olympics in the news, ASOTV hopes this event will serve as an opportunity to see the heart and soul of the organization and its valued athletes.
"Often times people's perception of Special Olympics and the athletes are skewed; this will give them a chance to see how wonderful these athletes are," said Volunteerism Committee Chairman Sam Carlson, senior biomedical science major. "They have so much to offer us, so much to teach us. They're filled with so much happiness, and it's contagious - you can't help but smile and have a great time when you're with them."
More information
Interested student volunteers can visit the ASOTV website, asotv.tamu.edu, to sign up. All students are also welcome to attend or walk-up to any Spring Games event to cheer on the athletes or volunteer.
More information can also be found at the ASOTV meeting at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Memorial Student Center Complex 206.
The Area Spring Games is an annual event that will include more than 300 athletes participating in track and field events such as long jump, javelin, shot put, softball throw and long distance track. ASOTV is in its first year as a Texas A&M student organization, and this event was directly connected to its creation.
"College Station has been hosting the Area Spring Games for several years and yet there never seemed to be enough volunteers at the event," said Laquita Alexander, senior theatre major and ASOTV community outreach chairwoman. "We believe A&M students are willing to help, but they just don't know help is even needed. ASOTV was designed to fix this problem and make A&M students aware of the opportunities to volunteer with Special Olympics right here in Bryan-College Station."
There are seven Special Olympics teams in the Bryan-College Station area, which ASOTV supports with volunteers and fundraising. The Spring Games will draw athletes and teams from throughout the Heart of East Texas Region.
The event will be at College Station Middle School. The weekend will begin with long distance running on Friday afternoon and sporting events will continue through Saturday afternoon.
The Spring Games include social events with athlete and volunteer interaction. On Friday, athletes will gather for the Victory Dance at 7 p.m., where everyone is invited to join in the festivities. Throughout the weekend, Athletic Village will offer crafts, games and entertainment for the athletes between their events.
"The Victory Dance is one of my favorite aspects of Special Olympics," said Bre Cleary, campus relations chairwoman and junior communication major. "Everyone, athletes, non-athletes, parents and friends come together and dance the night away."
Volunteer opportunities are abundant throughout the two-day event. Volunteers can keep time for events, be a buddy for one athlete or work at Athletic Village. Regardless of the task, ASOTV members attest that the experience will positively affect participants.
"By either helping us set up, clean up, giving out awards to the athletes, timing, measuring or simply acting as buddies, there is always something to do and memories to be made that will last a lifetime," Cleary said.
Previous volunteers said it is the individual time with each athlete that leaves a lasting impact on the volunteer.
"There is something for me to learn from every athlete I meet, whether it is their passion, compassion, or joyful outlook, and I love the experience of meeting so many unique individuals," said senior kinesiology major and ASOTV Treasurer Vanna Stotts. "ASOTV has taught me lessons in diversity and compassion. I wish I could be half as accepting and loving as some of the athletes I have met are to everyone they encounter."
With events placing the national Special Olympics in the news, ASOTV hopes this event will serve as an opportunity to see the heart and soul of the organization and its valued athletes.
"Often times people's perception of Special Olympics and the athletes are skewed; this will give them a chance to see how wonderful these athletes are," said Volunteerism Committee Chairman Sam Carlson, senior biomedical science major. "They have so much to offer us, so much to teach us. They're filled with so much happiness, and it's contagious - you can't help but smile and have a great time when you're with them."
More information
Interested student volunteers can visit the ASOTV website, asotv.tamu.edu, to sign up. All students are also welcome to attend or walk-up to any Spring Games event to cheer on the athletes or volunteer.
More information can also be found at the ASOTV meeting at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Memorial Student Center Complex 206.
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