Number of Participants: 55
Hours Donated: 1.5
Value of Time Served: $697
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Schools
School: Wallkill Senior High School
Date: November 28, 2023
Location:
Wallkill Senior High School
Robinson Drive, Wallkill
NY
About:
Just prior to CoVid-19, we created a Special Olympics style field day for all K-12 Life Skills students. JV and Varsity Athletes were paired up with these special education students in an effort to celebrate each of these kids as individuals and their vast abilities. This day has since morphed into an annual event that is offered to all K-12 special education students, athletes and even alumni, many of whom continued on to become college athletes themselves. The event offers an opportunity for its hundreds of participants to make memories and connections to last a lifetime.
Last year, our event grew into an after-school club for special education and general education students alike. Senior athlete, Kyle DeGroat, is an incredible young man who is headed to play baseball at the University of Texas and a Be-YOU-tiful Club Officer. He shared the following statement with me when talking about the club: “This club has changed my life in many positive ways. Being around these students once a week really gives me the opportunity to see life from a different perspective. As an athlete, meeting with teams and having our field day is a great way for students of all abilities to connect. The students have made just as much of an impact on my life as I have made on theirs!”
This year, the club continues to grow bigger than ever. Now, coaches and athletes of various JV and Varsity Teams are working with me to offer intramural events for the students throughout the year. At each event, athletes are typically buddied up with a student club member. A variety of skills and drills specific to each sport are offered along with scrimmage style games. These meetings offer the athlete an extraordinary opportunity to connect with their peers while participating in the sport that they love and are passionate about. For the club member, each team event gives them an opportunity to learn from the athletes, connect with them as individuals and shine in their own unique way!
So far this year, the Girls Soccer teams (approximately 30+ and the coach) Boys Baseball teams (approximately 10+ JV and the Varsity coach) and Girls Tennis (approximately 15+ and the coach)teams have hosted the Be-You-Tiful Club. This winter, the Girls Volleyball teams, Girls Softball Teams and both Girls and Boys Basketball teams are scheduled to host them as well. With more teams scheduled in the spring as well as the annual Be-YOU-tiful Field Day in May 2024.