HCAC SAAC Joins Special Olympics Indiana for Joint Bowling Venture
Photos taken by Aaron Hommell
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GREENWOOD, IN - The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) had close to 40 HCAC student-athletes participate in a unified bowling activity with approximately 40 Special Olympics of Indiana athletes from Johnson County at Southern Bowl in Greenwood, Indiana on Sunday afternoon. The event marked the kickoff of the NCAA Division III SAAC partnership with Special Olympics.
The bowling activity was utilized to introduce the new NCAA Division III initiative with Special Olympics to the conference membership and to promote a continued effort from the institutions with Special Olympics in their local communities.
At the NCAA Convention in San Antonio, the Division III SAAC introduced a partnership with Special Olympics in a coordinated community outreach effort. The joint venture will bring together SAACs at NCAA Division III schools and conference offices with the Special Olympics Programs that exist in each state.
Special Olympics is a global, nonprofit organization which gives
participants the
chance to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy,
and share those skills and friendship with their families, other
Special Olympics athletes, and community members by providing
year-round sports training and athletics competition in a variety
of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual
disabilities.
“Special Olympics is experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of young people seeking to volunteer for our program,” stated Michael Furnish, President/CEO of Special Olympics Indiana. “This project is especially exciting because it will involve college athletes as role models for our participants, and possible gaining a whole new perspective on the importance of sports in their lives.”
Furnish also serves as a football referee for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference during the fall season.
The new partnership also aligns with the new Division III
strategic-positioning platform as the student-athlete becomes more
involved in the local community.
“I was very pleased that we were able to partner with Special Olympics to host this event,” says HCAC Commissioner, Chris Ragsdale. “The timing of this event fits perfectly with our new national initiative to expand our community outreach efforts with Special Olympics. Today’s event has been designed specifically to promote and challenge our membership to initiate their own outreach with Special Olympics.”
At the event, student-athletes from the HCAC exchanged a gift from their institution with their Special Olympic athlete pair to help commemorate the event.
“It is a rare and very special moment when you are able to create a sporting event (bowling) where Special Olympic athletes and intercollegiate athletes are able to share a competitive experience. The experience of sharing in the joy and excitement of competition together is a moment neither group will soon forget,” added Ragsdale.
