ST. PAUL – For the second time in the 2012-13 school year, the Northwestern College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) welcomed Special Olympics athletes to the Ericksen Center for a time filled with sports, fun, and fellowship with Eagle student-athletes.

On Sunday, April 14, three local Special Olympics groups participated in multi-sport clinics that were run by representatives from various NWC teams. Basketball, dodge ball, soccer, golf, and wallyball were all activities included in the time of clinics before a large-group kickball event concluded the afternoon.

After hosting a basketball event in December, the SAAC was eager to provide another opportunity for both Northwestern and Special Olympics athletes to partner together.

“I loved spending time with these athletes,” explained men's basketball student-athlete Thomas Shephard (Crystal, N.D./Valley-Edinburg). “They are a great example of what we should be like as student-athletes. They always try their hardest competing, care for each other, and have contagious smiles on their faces."

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III SAAC began a partnership with Special Olympics in 2011 with an emphasis on extending involvement at both the conference and institutional level. Northwestern first participated in a state-wide event in the spring of 2011 before hosting its first campus-specific activity in December.

"I love that Division III has continued to partner with Special Olympics,” said NWC SAAC Co-Chair Kaia Larson (Ramsey, Minn./Meadow Creek). “I think it's safe to say our athletes learn more from them than they learn from us."