Sports > Schools
Brave Hearts: Allen volunteers take away plenty from experience with Special Olympians
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
When the Special Olympics Texas State Games commenced last month, more than 3,000 athletes made up the field over four days at Maverick Stadium in Arlington.
The amount of volunteers needed to stage a competition of that magnitude is massive and this year that contingent included 270 teenagers and 50 adults from Allen. The local volunteers were representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"This was an opportunity for our kids to become aware of others and understand the human need to be important and to achieve," said Bonnie Bowman, mother of a volunteer.
As the numbers would suggest, there were a variety of activities for the volunteers to take part in, starting with the opening ceremonies.
"I was amazed at how many Special Olympians were participating," said Hailey Jensen. "There was a ton of them coming into the stadium and running down the steps while people cheered."
Jensen also volunteered for the soccer and track and field competitions.
"I realized we are not that different," she said. "And I loved getting to know the kids individually; they were open, friendly and willing to give and get unconditional love."
That could be seen across all the events (which included track and field, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, tennis and equestrian riding) as some volunteers served as huggers, with each athlete receiving a hug when they finished a game or crossed a finish line.
Other volunteer jobs included acting as one-on-one coaches, handing out water and snacks, serving as scorekeepers, timekeepers and event organizers. That provided for plenty of upbeat moments, including the basketball tournament where a player remarked, "Did you see me? I was just like Kobe (Bryant)."
Awards ceremonies occurred after each event and that's where Xavier Huang assisted.
"All the participants deserve more than just applause, they deserve respect," he said. "And many of them were really good athletes; they were better athletes than I am."
After several days of hard work on their various fields of sport, play ensued following the closing ceremonies with the volunteers and athletes engaging in an evening of music and dancing.
And as was the case during the Special Olympics Texas State Games themselves, the volunteers from Allen may have gotten more out of the experience than the athletes.
"We teach our youth that when we are in the service of others, we are really serving God, and that our lives will be blessed as a result of our service," said Trent Thomas, an adult chaperon. "Our youth were blessed and their lives were changed as they interacted with, helped and served the Special Olympians. These athletes truly are some of the Heavenly Father's choicest children."
The amount of volunteers needed to stage a competition of that magnitude is massive and this year that contingent included 270 teenagers and 50 adults from Allen. The local volunteers were representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"This was an opportunity for our kids to become aware of others and understand the human need to be important and to achieve," said Bonnie Bowman, mother of a volunteer.
As the numbers would suggest, there were a variety of activities for the volunteers to take part in, starting with the opening ceremonies.
"I was amazed at how many Special Olympians were participating," said Hailey Jensen. "There was a ton of them coming into the stadium and running down the steps while people cheered."
Jensen also volunteered for the soccer and track and field competitions.
"I realized we are not that different," she said. "And I loved getting to know the kids individually; they were open, friendly and willing to give and get unconditional love."
That could be seen across all the events (which included track and field, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, tennis and equestrian riding) as some volunteers served as huggers, with each athlete receiving a hug when they finished a game or crossed a finish line.
Other volunteer jobs included acting as one-on-one coaches, handing out water and snacks, serving as scorekeepers, timekeepers and event organizers. That provided for plenty of upbeat moments, including the basketball tournament where a player remarked, "Did you see me? I was just like Kobe (Bryant)."
Awards ceremonies occurred after each event and that's where Xavier Huang assisted.
"All the participants deserve more than just applause, they deserve respect," he said. "And many of them were really good athletes; they were better athletes than I am."
After several days of hard work on their various fields of sport, play ensued following the closing ceremonies with the volunteers and athletes engaging in an evening of music and dancing.
And as was the case during the Special Olympics Texas State Games themselves, the volunteers from Allen may have gotten more out of the experience than the athletes.
"We teach our youth that when we are in the service of others, we are really serving God, and that our lives will be blessed as a result of our service," said Trent Thomas, an adult chaperon. "Our youth were blessed and their lives were changed as they interacted with, helped and served the Special Olympians. These athletes truly are some of the Heavenly Father's choicest children."
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