SCL Staff Show Support for Summer Special Olympics
Over 1,000 athletes from across New York State will travel to Ithaca for the state’s Special Olympics Summer Games June 24-26. This marks the first of three years in which Ithaca will be host for this event. For several years, local community members have been hard at work, volunteering their time, to make this a reality. Volunteers, including many Student and Campus Life (SCL) staff, play a critical role in the Games and in the lives of the athletes who participate.
Among those in SCL who are supporting this event are Jessie White, an Events Manager within SCL who is coordinating the Opening Ceremonies, and recently caddied at the Special Olympics USA Games. Denise Thompson, Off-Campus Living Manger, supports athlete check-in among other areas. Bill LaRock, Manager of Cornell’s Bowling Center, helps to ensure local Special Olympics bowlers have access to lanes for practice and the appropriate equipment. “It’s a great experience to be around the athletes’ positive energy,” Bill says. “Whether they compete well or not doesn’t seem to matter. It’s about getting together in a group and doing the event. They look forward to it every week.”
Karli Buday, Director for Campus Activities and one of the Summer Games organizers and a swim coach, sees a synergy between Cornell and the Special Olympics. "The inclusivity aspect that the organizations have at the core of their missions, allowing everybody to have a place and to feel like they have a place and space to grow.” Denise adds, “Cornell really is this huge community of people who care about others.”
SCL staff value that the Special Olympics plays an integral role in bettering and building community. “It’s one of the easiest, quickest ways to make a huge impact in your community. You’re helping the athletes gain life skills,” says Karli. “They’re learning basic skills that can help them in the future like team work and how to push through hard times. It allows our athletes to learn,” she says.
Tim Blair, who serves as a swim coach, echoes the sentiment. “This is a way for me to help to create opportunities for a community that in many respects has so little power,” he says. “It is a way to create awareness that what you see sometimes is not an indication of someone’s abilities. If you spend a little time with folks, you see the skillset they can bring to situations. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not always included when there are decisions around the community. The Special Olympics is a way to make sure people see this as a community that has the ability to contribute and be successful.”
The volunteers are emphatic; their participation is fulfilling. Troy Buchanan, who oversees Special Olympics athletes who work in Cornell Dining, reflects on involvement with the Special Olympics in years past as, “immensely emotionally rewarding.”Scott Flickinger who oversees a Unified Intramural basketball league at Cornell says, “It is a phenomenal experience giving individuals that don’t normally have it the opportunity to play. They are skill-building and recreating. At the end of the day, the athletes go home happy and fulfilled, feeling like, ‘I was able to participate in something important to me today.’”
“The athletes appreciate the volunteers and truly thrive off of the folks cheering them on,” says Tim. “Sometimes you volunteer somewhere and walk away and don’t feel appreciated, but that does not happen here.” Jessie agrees and adds, “The athletes are in their element having the time of their life. You will get hooked once you meet them. They are so excited that you’ll get excited as well. Just being around their energy and determination is inspiring. You’ll become inspired as well.”It’s a direct impact, says Karli. “You made that athlete happy in that moment, and it’s bigger than what you’re doing. People come and volunteer once, and that athlete remembers and talks about that individual for weeks.” Denise adds, “Whether you are helping with parking or to direct spectators, everyone is so happy to be a part of the day, and by volunteering you’re making something happen that literally would not otherwise.”
The volunteers encourage others to get involved, too.
Scott says, “We have the option to do what we want with our free time. When a person is looking to do something fulfilling, that is not centric around themselves, it can be about inviting themselves to be vulnerable and connect with others. That vulnerability, that connection, is part of doing the greatest good. It’s that ability to extend past yourself. Playing basketball for an hour means the world to some of our athletes. This is something that has meaning. It is phenomenal to be a part of this.”