Sherman Independent School District Superintendent Dr. David Hicks joined Austin College First Lady Cece O’Day to welcome 489 Special Olympians from 25 different area schools to the Austin College campus for the annual basketball tournament on January 23.
This year’s event was themed “Serve for the Future,” and included the morning tournament in the Mason Complex and activities in the afternoon at six off-site locations. There were 149 Austin College volunteers serving over the course of the day; and many of the volunteers participated as members of the following JanTerm classes: “Personal Wellness,” taught by Cece O’Day; “Volunteerism,” taught by Dr. Catie Paterson, assistant professor of Mathematics and Computer Science; “A Deliberate Life,” taught by Dr. Mari Elise Ewing, associate professor of Environmental Science; and “Experiencing Disability,” taught by Kim Snipes, biology lab coordinator.
The 21 students who volunteered in the afternoon served at either SISD Wakefield Elementary, Washington Elementary, SISD Central Office, Grand Central Station, Sherman Public Library or the Texas Ramp Project.
The annual JanServe event is produced in partnership by Sherman Independent School District and Austin College Service Station, a student-run office that coordinates campus and community service efforts. For more information about the Service Station contact Andrea Restrepo at 903.813.2096
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.