CUAA is hosting the Sports Expo bringing together nearly 180 CUAA athletes and 60 Special Olympics athletes for a day of sports, teamwork, and character-building.
CUAA is thrilled to announce the upcoming Sports Expo, a special partnership event with Special Olympics, taking place on Friday, October 4. This inclusive event will bring together nearly 180 CUAA athletes and 60 Special Olympics athletes for a day of sports, teamwork, and character-building.
A Collaborative Effort
The idea for the Sports Expo emerged after the success of a previous collaboration at the NAIA Cheer and Dance Championships held at Eastern Michigan University last year. “The Special Olympics athletes at the event were loving it, the Special Olympics staff said they would be interested in doing another event with us,” said CUAA Director of Athletics Lonnie Pries. “Our administration team decided to reach out, and after working through the details, we landed on a date that worked well for everyone.”
The October 4th event will see Special Olympics athletes paired with CUAA athletes in a 2:1 ratio, with each CUAA team contributing approximately half their roster to support the event. “It took some coordination to figure out a date that worked for all the athletes, but October 4th ended up being perfect as it falls during CUAA’s Fall Break,” Pries added.
Rotating Sports and Learning Experiences
The event will take place across three main locations: Ferry Field at Cardinal Stadium, Thunder Sports Complex, and the Cardinal Fieldhouse. CUAA athletes will work alongside Special Olympics athletes across multiple sports, including football, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and track. “We plan to rotate the athletes through five to six different sports throughout the day, but each Special Olympics athlete will stay at their assigned location to keep things simple,” explained Pries.
This approach aims to foster deeper connections between CUAA athletes and their Special Olympics counterparts. “The goal is for our athletes to not only teach sports skills but also to build relationships. They’ll learn about each Special Olympics athlete they’re paired with, and that’s something really special,” Pries said.
Character Development Through Service
This partnership highlights the core values of CUAA’s athletics program, which focuses on Christ-centered leadership and servant leadership. “Our athletes are taking the time to serve others and give them a great experience,” said Pries. “Christ is the perfect example of serving others, and that’s what we try to instill in our athletes. This event helps them appreciate the opportunities they have and brings joy to everyone involved.”
The experience promises to be both fun and educational for CUAA athletes as they adapt their coaching styles to meet the needs of Special Olympics athletes. “It will help our athletes adjust how they interact with others, and it’ll be a great learning experience for them,” Pries said.
The event will also allow CUAA athletes to witness the excitement and joy that sports can bring to others. Thinking back to the Cheer and Dance competition, Pries shared, “One girl even went up to do a cheer on the stage, and the crowd loved it. More Special Olympic athletes went up there and did cheers—it was very moving.”
The Sport Expo on Friday, October 4 will undoubtedly be a day filled with smiles, sports, and the embodiment of servant leadership. “The hardest part has been working out the logistics, but the excitement from our coaches and athletes has made it fun,” Pries said. “I can’t wait to see the smiles on everyone’s faces—it’s what this is all about.”
Want in?
Concordia University Ann Arbor is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.
—This story is written by Keara Chaperon, Social Media Manager for Concordia University Ann Arbor and Concordia University Wisconsin. She may be reached at keara.chaperon@cuaa.edu