By Griffin Powell

Every year, Greensboro College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosts the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. They have a multitude of sports such as football, soccer and basketball. For the third year, Greensboro College’s SAAC hosted a Special Olympics Unified Volleyball League.

Every Sunday in September and part of October a group rallies at Greensboro College’s Reynolds Center upstairs gym for fun. In this league, Special Olympics athletes participate in volleyball with the help and support of Greensboro College student-athletes. They are guided in learning volleyball skills such as passing, setting, hitting and serving. SAAC President Taylor Cotie has helped run this clinic for three years, about what it means to host an event like this and how it benefits the GC community.

“Hosting this clinic every year has been such a rewarding experience. It brings the Greensboro College campus together, and seeing the happiness it brings the Special Olympics athletes reminds us all why we do it. At the end of the day, it is more than just volleyball – it is about the bonds that we create,” Cotie said.

The participants in the Special Olympics have a wide variety of disabilities, yet they bring energy and positivity to every session they attend.

“Each year that I have led this clinic, I have witnessed the excitement the Special Olympics athletes bring,” Cotie said. “Many of them return year after year and they remember the names of the GC athletes, which shows how much these clinics mean to them. Being able to brighten their day makes the experience even more meaningful.”

With events like this happening on Greensboro’s campus, it is hard not to acknowledge the effort people put into brightening someone else’s day. It fosters camaraderie and unites the campus community.

“Having the opportunity to hold events like these not only connects and builds relationships with the Special Olympics athletes, but it also helps break the stigma surrounding student-athletes,” Cotie said. “Several GC athletes volunteer with this league every year, which shows their passion and dedication to giving back to the community.”

The next Special Olympics Unified Volleyball League will be held in the upstairs gym of the Reynolds Center on Sunday, October 5, from 2 to 3 p.m. GC students and student-athletes are encouraged to attend. No volleyball experience is necessary to volunteer. In addition to the volleyball league, Greensboro College’s SAAC will host a Special Olympics Field Day on Sunday, October 12, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The activities held will include baseball, soccer, lacrosse and cornhole. Anyone interested in volunteering should reach out to Taylor Cotie.