Behrend students take polar plunge for Special Olympics
Members of Penn State Behrend's athletics department were freezing for a reason Wednesday as they partnered with Special Olympics for a fundraiser.
Student athletes took the polar plunge Wednesday at Behrend's campus to help raise money for Special Olympics programming.
Jersey Mike's presents Shriner's Erie with annual donation
Special Olympic athletes don't pay a dime to be involved in their programs so fundraising is a huge piece of what they do.
'Having the students here, come out to plunge today, and just tell them a little bit about the special Olympics and the good work that we're doing is incredibly important and we're so thankful,' said Katherine Rein, regional director of the Special Olympics.
Erie Regional Airport Authority hosting Global Entry event
'We had people here earlier in swim trunks and ski goggles, getting really into it. I think it's something that everybody is passionate about. We're just happy to come out here and raise awareness and raise support,' said Oliver Petsch, a senior and president of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Special Olympics will be taking their dunk tank to Mercyhurst University Thursday and then to Erie's bayfront on Friday to continue efforts.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
55th annual Special Olympics Hawaii kicks at UH Manoa
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Special Olympics Hawai'i athletes are ready to go the distance as the 55th Annual State Summer Games get underway this Opening Ceremonies began Friday morning at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Les Murakami Stadium, with hundreds of athletes, coaches, and supporters from across the state gathering to celebrate one of the organization's biggest events of the year. WakeUp2Day's Chris Latronic was live on location, speaking with Dan Epstein, president and CEO of Special Olympics Hawai'i, and Kenji Roy Momohara, a Special Olympics athlete, to preview the festivities. Athletes have been training since February to compete in events such as powerlifting, softball, swimming, and track and field. The Summer Games run from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8, with multiple venues across Honolulu hosting competitions and special programs. The Opening Ceremonies also marked the finish line for participants in the First Hawaiian Bank Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run. Now in its 40th year, the torch run honors Honolulu Police Officer Troy Barboza, who coached Special Olympics athletes before he was tragically killed in the line of duty. Law enforcement officers from across city, county, state, and federal agencies join the run annually to raise awareness and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Celebrate the Summer Solstice at Capitol Modern Friday, June 6 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Softball (UH Mānoa and Sand Island) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies (Les Murakami Stadium) 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Cheer for Champions Fundraiser (Les Murakami Stadium) Saturday, June 7 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Healthy Athletes Program (UH Mānoa and Kaiser High School) 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Track and Field (Kaiser High School) 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Powerlifting (UH Mānoa, Warrior Recreation Center) 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Swimming (Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex) 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Softball Finals (UH Mānoa) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Victory Dance (UH Mānoa) Sunday, June 8 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Swimming Finals (UH Mānoa) 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Powerlifting Finals (UH Mānoa) 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Track and Field Finals (Kaiser High School) Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Les Murakami Stadium (UH Mānoa) – Opening Ceremonies, Softball Finals Sand Island Softball Complex – Softball competitions Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex – Swimming events Warrior Recreation Center (UH Mānoa) – Powerlifting Henry J. Kaiser High School – Track and Field For full details on the event and volunteer opportunities, visit Special Olympics Hawai'i. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Special Olympics Indiana's Summer Games begin in Terre Haute
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Thousands of athletes, volunteers, and supporters from around the state of Indiana are in Terre Haute this weekend for Special Olympics Indiana's biggest event of the year. Athlete Hunter Canada said the feeling is amazing. 'It's pretty entertaining and fun just being out there with all the other people competing', Canada said. 'I'm wishing everybody good luck.' Athletes compete in a number of different events like swimming on the campus of Rose-Hulman and volleyball, track and field, and pickleball at Indiana State. One duo from Jackson County, AJ Engel and Hunter Canada, claimed the top two spots in their 800-meter race. 'I was expecting him to pass me at the end, but we were expecting to get first and second', Canada said. 'It feels good to take first and second', Engel said. 'The runners were good competition.' Some athletes have been competing for their entire lives. 'I've done this for as long as I remember', Engel said. 'I've run track in middle school and high school. I just really feel like Special Olympics is good.' Other, like Madison Carter, have chosen the volunteer route. 'I've actually been doing this for eight years now', Carter said. 'I started out in high school doing Best Buddies, unified track, peer tutoring, you name it, I've probably done it. Then I've been in volleyball since I was nine years old, so I reached out to somebody here at Special Olympics. I started as a volunteer, then became a part of the management team, and now I'm the manager of it all.' All involved agree the best part about the event is coming together. 'The camaraderie and building those relationships throughout the entire experience here is like no other', Carter said. 'I've seen people since I started eight years ago, all the way to new people this year. I think those relationships are like no other.' Events will continue in Terre Haute and on the campuses of Indiana State and Rose-Hulman through the weekend. All events are open to the public at no cost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The race to find a thief: Berlin police investigating after Torch Run signs were stolen
BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) — Anticipation and excitement surround the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics each year in Berlin. Year after year, students line the route in front of their school to cheer on the officers. Annual Special Olympics Torch Run begins in Connecticut This year, there was also disappointment. The signs, which usually line Veterans Way, were stolen sometime between Monday when they were placed there, and Wednesday, when Mark DePinto, the officer who organizes Berlin's leg of the run, realized they were gone. 'He works very hard for this to come out perfect and that was like a setback to him,' Carmen DePinto, Mark's wife, said. It was too late to replace the signs before Thursday's torch run. The signs show the businesses and organizations which support the torch run and the Special Olympics. DePinto's daughter Christine is one of the athletes. On the day of the race, she rides in the truck which leads the police officers through town. 'She gets excited to be part of it every year,' DePinto said. 'She gets so excited she don't even want to go to her job.' 'It's just… it's hard to understand why somebody would pull those signs out and take them for a cause as good as the Special Olympics,' Berlin Deputy Police Chief Drew Gallupe said. Berlin police have launched a full investigation and say whoever is responsible will face larceny charges. 'We're reviewing video from surrounding businesses and we would ask anyone that has information or saw someone taking the signs or knows who took them if they would call us at the Berlin Police Department,' Gallupe said. Berlin police say there were about a half a dozen signs stolen from Veterans Way and because of that, those businesses and organizations didn't get the recognition they deserve for supporting this worthy cause. One of them was a local fire department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
