More than 365 students with special needs competed in the 26th annual Special Olympics on Oct. 22.
“I thought Special Olympics was amazing this year,” Student Council sponsor Sarah Lueken said. “I had so many teachers from the school come up to me and say how great our kids are and that we have the best kids.”
This was the largest number of athletes that have ever participated in Special Olympics. When the original deadline for volunteers passed, there were fewer than 100 buddies signed up.
“We were very worried that if we did not have the number of buddies for these athletes, we were failing at doing everything we could to show how much we care about them and about this day,” senior Student Council member Alex Zvibleman said. “These athletes look forward to Parkway Special Olympics all year, and we needed to show that we cared.”
After realizing the shortage in buddies, Student Council members extended the deadline. During this time they encouraged students to sign up by sending out emails and making announcements.
“When you join StuCo, you join because you want to make the school a better place,” Zvibleman said. “When we have events like this, it hits close to home and I like to do everything I can to make everything and anything possible.”
In just three days almost 200 additional students signed up for Special Olympics, enough for each athlete to have a buddy.
“I think the coolest part of being in the Central community is that so many people care about this day,” Zvibleman said. “It makes me very happy to be a student at Parkway Central when I see the school come together to make someone else’s day.”
Each school sponsors a different sport and holds Special Olympics for one day every year. Students from Special School District can choose which event they would like to attend. Members of the boys soccer team were in charge of refereeing and setting up the games and scoring the individual skills.
“I love seeing the smiles on the athletes and I love seeing our kids encouraging them and just showing how special Central is,” Lueken said.
The event started with an opening ceremony, which included a performance from the dance team and band, speeches and a torch run. Then teams played their games or spent time at the carnival.
“It made me feel so thankful and it was so rewarding to see everyone having such a great time,” freshman Sarah Whalen said. “Making sure that they had the best time made me feel so good inside.”
Students with a wide range of disabilities, including some in wheelchairs participated.
“There are challenges no matter what you do, so I think that having a buddy in a wheelchair just made it more of a learning experience for me,” Whalen said.
A special skills field was also included to accommodate athletes whose teachers thought they could not participate in a game. This consisted of athletes practicing individual soccer skills such as shooting and dribbling.
“I love seeing our kids helping other kids,” Lueken said. “It is a moment for the Central kids to think about someone else, and to make that someone else feel special for the day.”
Between the athletes and their teachers, there were over 600 visitors during Special Olympics.
“I can promise you there is nothing more amazing than to see the smiles on these kids’ faces,” Zvibleman said. “I always go home with that smile. We may be making their day but they are making my year. These athletes leave an impression on me that always makes my heart skip a beat.”
