Special Olympics and NCAA Division III celebrate the 10-year anniversary of a partnership that has enhanced the lives of student athletes and Special Olympics athletes across the country. Initiated by the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the partnership provides a platform for athletes of all abilities to experience sports and friendship together.
.jpg?width=221&name=rowan-university-banner-celebration_30796009447_o%20(1).jpg)
The Decade of Inclusion interview series will capture the past, present and future of this unique partnership. Stay tuned to hear how the lives of student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes have been impacted over time.
#DecadeOfInclusion
#UnifiedGeneration
Meet your hosts!
RJ Nealon, Special Olympics North America Athlete Reporter
Abigail Newkirk, former soccer student-Athlete and Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Interview 1: Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Unified pair, Abigail and RJ interview Dan Dutcher, former NCAA Division III Vice President, and Louise McCleary, the current Interim NCAA Division III Vice President on the beginning vision and goals for the partnership.
Click here to read the interview article.
Interview 2: Friday, September 10, 2021
Episode 2: Featuring NCAA DIII’s Marie Stroman and Special Olympics Maryland’s Annu Singleton
Unified pair, Abigail and RJ interview Marie Stroman, former chair of NCAA DIII SAAC and current Middle Atlantic Conference Associate Executive Director, and Annu Singleton, Special Olympics athlete from Maryland. Marie introduces how she was part of the beginnings of the national movement, and Annu describes his experiences of the partnership.
Click here to read the interview article.
Interview 3: Sunday, October 10, 2021
Episode 3: Featuring former NCAA DIII National SAAC Leaders Cat Lanigan and Domenic Fraboni.
Unified pair, Abigail and RJ interview Cat Lanigan, former NCAA DIII National SAAC member and current Global Youth Engagement Fellow; and Domenic Fraboni, former NCAA DIII National SAAC member and current Doctor of Physical Therapy and Podcast Host. Cat and Dom share how Special Olympics enhanced their college experience and reflect on the impact it had on their careers. #whydiii #UnifiedGeneration
Click here to read the interview article.
Interview 4: Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Episode 4: Featuring Bates Special Olympics College Club Leaders
Bridget Thompson and Ellie Bauer, student leaders for the Bates Special Olympics College Club and Ashley Stasulis, a Special Olympics athlete and Unified teammate are interviewed about their involvement on campus. Special Olympics College Clubs around the country are paving the way to create more inclusive campus communities. Bates College leads events and activities for student-athletes and Special
Olympics athletes to connect and form unique
friendships. #whydiii #UnifiedGeneration
Click here for the interview article.
Interview 5: Friday, December 10, 2021
Episode 5: Featuring Jay Jones of the HCAC and Mike Hasch of Special Olympics Indiana
What is it like to play Unified at the conference level? Jay Jones, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner and Mike Hasch, Special Olympics Indiana Director of Unified Champion Schools share how they work together to create opportunities for student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes at the conference level. #whydiii #UnifiedGeneration
Click here for the interview article.
Interview 6: Thursday, January 10, 2022
Episode 6: Featuring National Work Team Members, Britney Bautista and Mercy Ogutu
A cross-country friendship was formed out of a unique opportunity to serve on the Special Olympics college program National Work Team. The work team is Unified and is made up of students like Britney and Mercy that work on a variety of projects for Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools ® college programming. They share how their involvement at each of their schools landed them a spot on the work team.
Click here for the interview article.
Interview 7: Thursday, February 10, 2022
Episode 7: Featuring Allison Paxton and Kami Morris from the Special Olympics Club at Bethany College
Bethany College brings inclusion to their campus by hosting Unified Sports events with local Special Olympics athletes. Allison Paxton, the founder of the Special Olympics Club at Bethany College and Kami Morris, a Unified athlete from the club at Bethany college share how events got started, and how it's brought them closer.
Click here for the interview article.
Interview 8: Thursday, March 10, 2022
Episode 8: Featuring Student-Athletes Olivia Ingalsbe and Aidan Gregory of SUNY New Paltz
The State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz partners up with a local team from Special Olympics New York. For many years SUNY New Paltz has hosted weekly Unified basketball games. Most recently, they have hosted virtual workouts to stay connected while they couldn't be together in-person. Hear from student-athletes Olivia Ingalsbe and Aidan Gregory on how they got involved in planning these fun events!
Click here for the interview article.
Interview 9: Sunday, April 10, 2022
Episode 9: Featuring King’s College Athletics and Special Olympics Pennsylvania Athlete
King’s College connected with a local team from Special Olympics Pennsylvania about 12 years ago. Since then, King’s College student athletes and Special Olympics athletes have created bonds and memories that have brought the athletic community together. Hear from Aaron Keller, an athlete from Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Cheryl Ish, and Megan Mundy from King’s College Athletics what it’s meant to have this
partnership on campus.
Click here for the interview article.
Interview 10: Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Episode 10: A Decade of Inclusion Celebration – Choose to Include
Unified pair RJ Nealon and Abigail Newkirk interviewed student-athletes, Special Olympics athletes, athletics staff, conference commissioners and many more throughout the Decade of Inclusion series. This series has celebrated the growth and impact of the partnership between Special Olympics and NCAA Division III. For ten years, NCAA DIII student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes have formed unique connections, developed sports skills, and have learned impactful takeaways through the joy of Unified Sports. The interviewee’s leave us with one message – Choose to Include!
Learn More
Visit the NCAA Division III x Special Olympics landing page
Get Involved
If you are a student-athlete at a NCAA DIII institution or a Special Olympics athlete looking to get involved, contact your Special Olympics State Program. Find your Special Olympics State Program contact here!
Questions? Contact socollege@specialolympics.org.
.svg)
