{"id":1115,"date":"2018-06-22T21:46:09","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T21:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?page_id=1115"},"modified":"2019-07-02T14:28:44","modified_gmt":"2019-07-02T19:28:44","slug":"special-olympics-bowling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/06\/22\/special-olympics-bowling\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Olympics Bowling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Early Saturday morning November 12th, 2016, Western sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha<\/a> gathered at the Southside Family Fun Center to volunteer at the Special Olympics Bowling Tournament. <\/span><\/p>\n

Joni Thomas, a three-year member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, is the service and giving chair that coordinates a majority of the events like this for the sorority’s philanthropy projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alpha Sigma \u00a0Alpha is involved in many events locally, like polar plunge. Their philanthropy focus is within the special olympics. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlpha Sigma Alpha has worked with the special olympics since 1976,\u201d Thomas said. <\/span><\/p>\n

As the athletes began the tournament, the girls were excited to volunteer, by helping physically disabled athletes down the lanes and giving inspirational feedback to all. <\/span><\/p>\n

One Alpha Sigma Alpha member, Cheyanne Kitchen, was especially having fun with this philanthropy project. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is so exciting to be helping them today, I love spending time with the athletes.\u201d Kitchen said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoy working with the special olympics the most because I want to go into special education,\u201d Kitchen added. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hayle Tiller is a four-year member at Alpha Sigma Alpha, and enjoyed watching the athletes prove their abilities. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest thing is being out here watching these athletes and knowing they are just as capable as any other athlete,\u201d Tiller said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The athletes were awarded medals and prizes throughout the tournament bringing smiles to their faces and warm hearts to everyone there.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is just one amazing thing alpha sigma alpha does. They also participate in polar plunge and other great events and fundraisers. There focus is mainly on special needs organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Special Olympics<\/a> is a great inspiration to everyone showing that no matter what your situation is, you can do anything you set your mind to.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t