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2,000 Volunteer for Special Olympics
Patrick Doyle ‘04
 A
crisp autumn weekend greeted athletes and volunteers in the annual Special
Olympics festival held at Villanova. The event, the largest student-run
Special Olympics in the world, drew over 1,000 athletes from across Pennsylvania,
to compete in everything from bocce to roller-skating.
Villanova students were out in force,
numbering over 2,000 volunteers, nearly one-third of the undergraduate
student body. The weekend was a success, with the help of a large student
committee working around the clock under student chair Maureen Dirscherl
’03. ‘Nova students were also assisted by 1,000 non-student
volunteers, mostly from the Main Line/Philadelphia area.
Athletes competed in a number of different
team and individual events: soccer, bocce, volleyball, roller-skating,
power-lifting and long distance running. The event was able to utilize
Villanova’s fields and athletic facilities, as well as those of
Radnor High School and the Villanova Skating Rink.
In between events, athletes, coaches and
their families were able to take a break at Olympic Village, located at
the base floor of the new Health Center parking lot. Student groups ran
a number of booths, offering games, prizes and snacks.
Volunteers were overwhelmingly enthusiastic
for the entire event, and many donated their entire weekends to the event.
“The athletes and teams get you pumped to wake up every morning
and help out,” said Katie Pizzi ’03.
“Special Olympics is one of my favorite
weekends every year,” said Meaghan Ariel ’04. “It's
so wonderful to be out with the whole Villanova community working for
such a great cause. The dedication of the coaches, the support of the
families, and the enthusiasm of the athletes is inspiring."
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