Recap Video

On Sunday, March 2, the excitement was evident in the smiles on everyone's faces as the MASCAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee came together at Worcester State for a Special Olympics basketball clinic.

Over 20 Special Olympians from around Massachusetts arrived at Worcester State and were greeted by the many SAAC members in attendance. Each Olympian was put on a team and either played a game of pick-up basketball against other Olympians and SAAC members or participated in a skills clinic where they worked on dribbling, passing, shooting and other skills. At the end of the day, the Special Olympians heard their named called to receive a medal, rounding out a day full of fun and basketball.

Alongside the Special Olympics clinic, each MASCAC SAAC collected over 1,000 book donations and brought them so the student-athletes could write notes of encouragement inside. The books were then brought back to each campus for distribution at the local elementary schools and libraries. 

"It was wonderful to see all the member schools come together to engage with students and have fun," MASCAC SAAC President Julianne Kelly of Westfield State said. "All around, Olympians, student-athletes, and SAAC members were smiling and radiating joy. The event was filled with various stations that kept everyone engaged and active throughout the day. Worcester State did a fantastic job of getting their student-athletes involved, ensuring that everyone had cheerleaders in the gym. It was clear that the Olympians were having a blast and felt completely welcomed in such a positive environment. It was incredible to see hundreds of books being signed with so much care. This initiative is so important because every child deserves to have access to books in their home, classroom, and library."

For more information on Special Olympics Massachusetts, visit https://www.specialolympicsma.org/.