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On Saturday, June 18, 12 Special Olympics Iowa athletes were spotlighted at the All-Iowa Elite Athletes Sports Awards Banquet by The Des Moines Register. The athletes chosen for the All-Iowa program represent the spirit of the Special Olympics Iowa movement and have gone above and beyond to show their dedication to sport and sportsmanship. They represent SOIA in competitions, service to their fellow athletes, and leadership within the organization and their community.

The banquet also featured keynote speaker Peyton Manning, who gave the SOIA athletes a special shout-out during his presentation and asked them to stand and be recognized as a group for their accomplishments. …

Sarah Bidney, Director of Instruction at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, will offer free golf lessons to Special Olympics Iowa athletes on June 29, July 20 and August 10 starting at 7 p.m.

Sarah is the 2010, 2012 and 2015 Teacher of the Year – Iowa PGA Section, recipient of the 2015 Youth Player Development Award – Iowa PGA Section and a four time GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional (2012-2015).

If an athlete is interested in attending any or all of the golf lessons, contact Rhonda Scwarzkopf at rschwarzkopf@soiowa.org or (515)-986-5520 and provide the name of the athlete and lesson date(s) they want to attend.

Have a softball team looking to play this summer? You’re in luck! The fifth annual JTC Softball Tournament is being held July 16-17, 2016 at Coralville Creekside Ball Park. This year the tournament’s proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Iowa.

See the event poster below for more details.

Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) athletes and law enforcement officials are being showcased on the 44-ounce cups at Casey’s General Stores throughout the state. The cups are available in stores now through Labor Day with a portion of the proceeds from each Casey’s Cup sold going to SOIA.

This is the third year Casey’s has supported SOIA with the Casey’s Cup campaign!

Now, SOIA is challenging customers to take photos of themselves with the cups, and each month this summer (June, July, August), a winner will be chosen to receive a SOIA swag item. A grand-prize winner will be chosen at the end of the contest and will receive a free one-night stay at Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines and other prizes.

HOW TO ENTER: …

Special Olympics Iowa athlete Brian Rolek was asked for the second year in a row to compete at the Principal Charity Classic Pro-Am on May 31, 2016. A Pro-Am takes place before the professional event and joins ordinary golfers on a team with a PGA Tour golfer. This year Rolek teamed up with pro Blaine McCallister.

Rolek has been competing in Special Olympics since junior high. He loves competing in individual events because it allows him to test himself against himself as well as his fellow athletes. He was named Special Olympics Iowa’s “Male Athlete of the Year” in 2014.

When he’s not golfing and participating in other SOIA sports, Rolek works full-time at the YMCA, enjoys hunting with his brothers, and often volunteers at Special Olympics golf fundraisers.

Rolek says he had a great time at his second appearance in the Principal Charity Classic. Congratulations on a great day of golf, Brian!

Brian with SOIA staff at the Principal Classic.
Photo via Principal Charity Classic.

We have just completed the “March to Summer Games” campaign. Here are the highlights!

1. 11 Delegations participated with 120 total individuals registered
2. 73 Special Olympics athletes and 47 Unified Partners
3. 79 people completed the program and walked 10,110 miles for the 10 week program.
4. Average of 128 miles per person
5. 50 people joined the 50 Mile Club
6. 37 people walked over 100 miles
7. West Harrison Schools walked a total of 3628 miles.

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Special Olympics North America is looking for qualified individuals to serve as volunteer technical delegate and assistant technical delegate for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games to be held in Seattle, Washington, July 1-6, 2018.

To apply, review the cover memo, the technical delegate interest form and job description. Applications are due no later than June 20, 2016 via email, fax or mail. Resumes should include Special Olympics and Sport Federation experience, certifications and other applicable experience is acceptable.

Submit applications to: Greg Epperson, Special Olympics North America, 3712 Benson Drive, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Fax: 919-782-3311.
E-mail: gepperson@specialolympics.org

Just ahead of the 2016 Summer Games, The Des Moines Register revealed the All-Iowa Special Olympics Elite Athletes. The athletes chosen represent the spirit of the Special Olympics Iowa movement and have gone above and beyond to show their dedication to sport and sportsmanship. They represent SOIA in competitions, service to their fellow athletes, and leadership within the organization and their community.

The Elite Athletes will be honored at the Register’s All-Iowa Sports Awards Banquet on June 18 in Des Moines. The banquet will feature keynote speaker Peyton Manning. …

Healthy Athletes screenings were provided to athletes by healthcare professionals for eyesight, dental, hearing, overall health and fitness, and more at the 2016 Summer Games at Iowa State University in Ames, May 19-21.

With more than 1.4 million free health examinations in over 170 countries, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program has become the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities. The program is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, which can lead to a better sports experience and improved well being.

Check out the video below highlighting the Healthy Athletes program at this year’s Summer Games:

Video by Kumar Wickramasingha