Five Whitefield eighth graders volunteered at the State Indoor Winter Games of the Special Olympics held in Marietta on January 22-24. Almost 2,000 athletes and 200 coaches competed in the Winter Games which included artistic gymnastics, bowling, floor hockey, basketball, powerlifting, and roller skating. Whitefield students AJ Hopkins, Ian Kennedy, Micah Smith, Andrew Thomas, and Devonte Watson were among the hundreds of volunteers who also participated.
"We worked with the basketball teams. It was really fun. The five of us from Whitefield were split up into two groups. Andrew, Devonte, and I were managers for two teams. Micah and A.J were managers for two other teams. We helped the Special Olympic athletes with their free-throws, encouraged them when they missed a shot, and gave them tips about the game.”
Special Olympics Incorporated, a national organization, was founded in 1968 by the late Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Over the past 45 years, the organization has grown exponentially and helped thousands of children and adults. Today, there are nearly 27,000 Special Olympic athletes across the United States who participate in 25 sports.