AIC Hosting Special Olympics Teams Over Three Weekends.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - American International College is in the midst of a partnership with Special Olympics to host the Western Massachusetts Basketball Tournament over three weekends in January and February, as student-athletes and coaches have volunteered their time to assist with the event.
AIC hosted the first weekend on Sunday, January 21, and most recently held second weekend of the tournament on Sunday, February 4. The final day of the tournament is scheduled for Saturday, February 17. All of the games have been played in the Henry A. Butova Gymnasium.
"We have such a large student body full of athletes here, so this just seems like a wonderful event to get so many of our people involved and to provide opportunity," said Donna Carroll, the Assistant Director of Career Development. "I think AIC has some great shared values with the Special Olympics organization, the top of which are access and inclusion."
The AIC community has offered support with student volunteers assisting as scorekeepers and timers, while others cheered on the players from the standings to help create a memorable experience for the Special Olympics athletes. Five teams and roughly 60 participants were able to go through different dribbling drills and competitive games.
"All the college players were here helping [the athletes] stretch and do drills and so they were having a blast with all the AIC help," said Lynn McCarthy, a coordinator for West Springfield Special Olympics.
"It means a lot," said Jacob Barnett, a junior on the AIC men's basketball team. "It was kind of a great feeling just to come out here and just help them out, be a part of the environment and give the energy and give back to the community."
- Information for story provided by AIC and WWLP 22 News -
AIC Partners with Special Olympics Massachusetts (PC: AIC Athletic Communications)
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