Winston-Salem State student-athletes continued to give back to their community on April 22 in Winston-Salem, as nearly two dozen current WSSU student-athletes from nine different athletic teams participated in the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Forsyth County Special Olympics at Wake Forest University’s Kentner Stadium.
The annual Forsyth County Spring Special Olympic Games are held every April at Kentner Stadium on the campus of WFU and the 2008 games mark the first year that the WSSU student-athletes have participated with area schools in the opening ceremonies.
There are currently more than 2.5 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities who are training to compete in the Special Olympics. Special Olympics North Carolina offers 20 Olympic-type sports for athletes to choose from and compete in.
The three-day Forsyth County Spring Special Olympic Games, which took place from April 22-24, features over 450 participants from area schools competing in 20 different events. The top 15 athletes move on to the State of North Carolina Special Olympic Summer Games in Raleigh, N.C., June 6-8.
During the 2007-08 academic year over 170 WSSU student-athletes volunteered more than 800 hours of their time reaching thousands of local children through the efforts of the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and the WSSU Student-Athlete Advisory Council under the direction of WSSU Associate Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker.
“Getting involved in events such as Special Olympics provides an opportunity for the athletes to give back, be committed and get involved,” WSSU Associate Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker said.
“The connection and relationship with the community that develops from community service adds an invaluable layer to education.
Walker says honesty is the best policy.
“We must be honest with all that is going on in the world today and if you are honest with yourself,”?she said. “It’s not difficult to commit to serve and do what’s necessary to build a stronger community.”