No score was kept. No post-game reports were filed.
And yet, it was obvious to anyone watching that everyone participating in the kickball, flag football and other games on the Hindsman Tower lawn at Arkansas Tech University on Thursday, Oct. 19, was a winner.
The annual Play Unified event at ATU has become a Homecoming tradition that provides Tech students with an opportunity to volunteer their time to play alongside athletes from Special Olympics Arkansas.
“Coming out to Tech means a lot to our Special Olympians,” said Darla Jones of Russellville, Special Olympics of Arkansas Area 17 Director. “Just being on the campus makes them feel important. I love the way Tech students come out and support it…it’s just an awesome feeling. These Tech students could be anywhere else, but they want to come out here. Apparently they like it because it just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. To be a part of the Homecoming week…that is what makes it so great for us.”
According to Special Olympics, the Play Unified movement is “dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences.” Individuals with and without intellectual disabilities play together on the same team in an effort to build friendship and understanding.
Baggo and bocce were among the other activities that took place during the 2017 Play Unified event at ATU. This marked the fourth consecutive year in which Play Unified was part of the Homecoming week schedule at Arkansas Tech.
Graycen Russell, a junior rehabilitation science major from Lonoke, was among the ATU students who helped plan the 2017 event.
“I hope (the Special Olympians) have fun and learn that college students really do care about them and their community,” said Russell. “We want to make a diffference in the community and an impact. It gives me hope for our future that my fellow Tech students care about these Olympians who are here today.”
Megan Bryant is an ATU senior from Rogers. She is active in registered student organization Delta Sigma Omicron, which serves as an advocate for people with disabilities on and off campus.
“We want to make people aware that (Special Olympians) are just like us,” said Bryant, who is majoring in rehabilitation science and psychology. “They have interests, and they have hobbies, so why not support them just like everyone else? The athletes we have interacted with have been awesome, and they’ve helped us learn bocce. I’ve never played that before, so it was great to learn a new game and hang out with them.”
For Russell, the pay off for all the hard work and planning was simple.
“Joy would be the biggest thing for me,” said Russell. “Seeing their faces light up and watching them have fun…they’re really just like anyone else is.”
