Earlier this month, Milton hosted its annual Special Olympics basketball tournament. Students from Community Engagement Programs and Partnerships (CEPP) assisted in organizing, coaching and refereeing the games. “Our students have a lot of fun with our Special Olympics events,” CEPP faculty director Andrea Geyling-Moore says. “They really get to know the athletes and build relationships with them.”
Under the leadership of Keisha Baffour-Addo (I), Milton volunteers get to know the Special Olympians’ ability levels and individual strengths, navigating the best ways to coach the teams to success. Milton works with a group of young athletes from Milton, Quincy and Randolph. The tournament hosted 13 different teams from the region, whose scores will be evaluated for potential advancement to the statewide competition.
Volunteer Blair Xu (I) says working with the athletes provides more than a service opportunity. “It’s about learning to really let go and have fun. The athletes joke with us and each other on the court,” Blair says. “They’re pretty competitive.”
Special Olympics Massachusetts provides year-round athletic training, health programming and competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities.