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OLYMPIC PARADE - Student volunteers cheer on athletes as they march around the track at Presbyterian College's Bailey Stadium on Friday morning.

During the spring of 2009, over 350 athletes from Laurens, Greenwood, and Newberry counties came to Presbyterian College’s Bailey Stadium to take part in the 35th annual Special Olympics games. The athletes participated in track and field events, including races, the tennis ball throw, softball throw, shot-put and standing long jump.

Parents, teachers, friends and volunteers cheered on the athletes from the stands. In the crowd was Virginia Graham of Hickory Tavern who had two grandchildren participating and Brenda Calvo, a self-contained teacher from Hickory Tavern Middle School who brought six students.

“They are having a ball,” said Calvo. “They are very excited for the socialization and for helping each other out.”

She said that some of the students come with the idea that they are going to just come and help, but “they end up participating because they see the joy in everyone else.”

“It really has been a blessing,” said Graham. “They see other children like them, and my grandson, who used to be so shy, it has helped him to blossom.”

Both were grateful for all the work that PC put into making the event successful. Lucy Strong, student volunteer services director at PC, said that nearly 300 PC students volunteered their time in all phases of planning.

“It is a student initiative,” said Strong. “It is one of those things where there is a model in place and PC students take more of the initiative and make it more of their own.”

Strong thought it was a great success, especially after hearing one athlete’s comments.

“He said, ‘Look at all those people here to cheer for me,’” after seeing all the supporters in the stands. “For this little boy, that was more important to him than having a time on his heat sheet.”

Great attention was given to the winners during the awards ceremony, with the ribbons being given by 2008 PC Homecoming Queen Lauren Deal, Miss Newberry Erica Mobley, Teen Miss Laurens County Ashleigh Stallworth, and Teen Miss Richland County Carolyne Mobley.

“Showing that individual attention to the athletes is important,” said Strong. “This may be something they look forward to all year.”

The support by PC to make the event successful is evident. Strong said that there was enormous help from the athletic, media, housekeeping and maintenance departments.

“They even let us paint the Special Olympics symbol on the 50-yard line,” she said. “That is a big deal.”

OLYMPIC SUCCESS - Students from Hickory Tavern Middle School were among some of the 350 athletes to participate in this year's 35th annual Special Olympics at Presbyterian College on Friday morning.