Special Olympics Bowling

Through the ARC of Fond du Lac, the Special Olympics Bowling program is a poignant experience of building relationships with people that the students might not normally have opportunity to relate with. After going through training, the students travel to Fond du Lac for 10 consecutive Fridays to work with Special Olympics athletes. Students support, coach, affirm but most importantly get to know the athletes. The students start out this ministry a bit shy and unsure. However, it is amazing to watch the change take place through the course of this ministry experience as they get to know and walk, side-by-side, with the athletes.

"Special Olympics was an amazing experience for me, because I got to discover many things about others, as well as myself. This experience meant a lot to me because I used to look at disabled people differently, and my point of view changed. I thought that they were like vegetables, didn't know anything and had no lives, but now I learned that many of them are caring individuals. They have their own lives outside of bowling, and do marry sometimes. I would also like to thank you, Mr. Voell, for allowing me to go to this ministry. " Andy Nguyen (’08).

"Special Olympics reminds you to see inside yourself and find the heart again, and open up to the world." Christian Saldivar (’08).

"During those weeks, the simple words, 'Thank you', rekindled my joy in service to others. In my entire life, I have never seen people thank me so sincerely. By the end of the ministry, I realized that the athletes weren't as incapable as I thought they were. In fact, they accepted who they were and knew what to be thankful for, something we all find a hard time doing." Paolo Espanola (’08).