COE Supports Special Olympics
Volunteers from the College of Education assisted with the Bulloch County Special Olympics Spring Games on April 11. They were in place at Statesboro High School’s Womak Field by 9 a.m. for the welcome parade as about 200 children with special needs arrived for the event. They were bussed in from elementary, middle and high schools across Bulloch County.
Tonya Cooper, B.S.Ed., elementary and special education instructor, helped with track and field events and passed out medals at the end of the three-hour event. Lydia Cross, assessment coordinator, and her graduate assistant, Jessica Lindbom, were joined by Data Manager Lisa Akers in helping with check-in and lunch prep. At least six students majoring in special education also helped at the event.
Plans are already underway for the two-day fall games in late October, and Cooper plans to be there. She says, “It’s hard to get enough volunteers. The more volunteers, the better to help kids feel special.”
According to their website, the mission of Special Olympics Georgia is to “provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”