Unified Sports Day
On May 7, 70 athletes and more than 30 volunteers attended the first Unified Sports Day at Luther. The event was organized by Luther’s Special Olympics chapter as a way to create fun events, bond with athletes, and extend recognition in the sports realm for individuals with disabilities. Activities included bowling, soccer, basketball, track and field, baseball, kickball, arts and crafts, and an award ceremony. Elizabeth Hemmingson ’24, president of Luther’s chapter, says, “The smiling faces of each athlete and the togetherness of the event were things that I will never forget.”
The presence of Special Olympics at Luther grew out of a Social Impact Research Fellowship in 2021 that paired a social work student and a management/accounting student with a community-based organization (in this case, CHOICE Employment Services) to help address a problem or fill a need.