QUINCY, Mass.- On Sunday, April 28, the Eastern Nazarene College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted a Special Olympics Unified Sports basketball game at the Lahue Athletic Center between the Dorchester Blue Devils and the SOLynn Bombers from Lynn, Massachusetts.

SAAC President Delaney Walker (Nampa, Idaho) and SAAC Vice President Ahidali DeHuelbes (Tucson, Ariz.), along with the SAAC Executive Board members and team representatives, played crucial roles in organizing the event with guidance from SAAC advisor and head men's basketball coach Aaron Loredo.

"Hosting Special Olympics MA at Eastern Nazarene was extraordinary! To not only see our student-athletes engage with the Special Olympics athletes, but to see the support of our student body was heartwarming," commented Loredo. "We wanted to make sure the Special Olympics athletes felt great energy competing in our gym. We look forward to continuing this partnership."

The Special Olympics Unified Sports program, founded in Massachusetts, boasts over a million participants worldwide. The program allows participants to improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, and learn acceptance and inclusion. ESPN has served as the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports since 2013, supporting the growth and expansion of this program that empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports.

"It was fantastic being able to watch the athletes play basketball, a game that I love so much, and to be a small part of making the event happen," offered Walker, a senior on the women's basketball and women's soccer teams. "Our group is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with Special Olympics and we are excited for more opportunities to host events like this in the future."

"Hosting the Special Olympics was so amazing! Seeing the student body, coaches, and staff members watching these kids play, I felt nothing but joy and happiness," said DeHuelbes, a junior on the women's basketball team. "The participation from the SAAC members and both basketball teams was awesome. I would love to have them come back and be the superstars they are and play the game I've loved since I was five years old."

"It was incredible to have our student-athletes come together to support the Special Olympics teams that came to campus. The atmosphere in the gym made the event much more memorable," stated Deeana Castro, SAAC social media coordinator and a junior on the women's soccer team. "This partnership with the Special Olympics is something that I would love to continue for future years."

One of the four core values of the mission of the ENC Athletic Department is Service. In conjunction with SAAC, ENC Athletics recognize the importance of looking beyond ourselves and finding ways to serve God and community. Following the model of Christ, we are devoted to the development of servant-leaders as a central part of the athletic experience.

PHOTOS: ENC SAAC Hosts Special Olympic Event 4-28-24