Information for Volunteers

Thanks for your interest in NUSpecialO, the largest and oldest collegiate Special Olympics organization in the country. We are looking for excited, thoughtful and compassionate students to volunteer as coaches, join a committee and help on the day of the Illinois Area 5 Olympics.

Applications for coaching and committees should be submitted by Monday October 5th via the forms on this website. We will then pass the applications on to our respective committee chairs, and they will contact you with your coaching assignment and/or to schedule an interview to become a committee membersin the weeks to follow.

Thank you again for your interest. We are excited to offer many new opportunities this year, and we will be partnering with a variety of other student groups in order to raise awareness about intellectual disabilities and organize both on and off-campus events. Your enthusiasm will help make our 33rd year the best one yet! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions!

Looking forward to getting to know you,
Glen Hajost and Kayleigh Wettstein
nuspecialo@gmail.com
2009-2010 Co-Chairs

2009-2010 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

COACHING OPPORTUNITIES / WORK DIRECTLY WITH ATHLETES:

We strongly recommend that everyone involved in Special Olympics at Northwestern participate as a coach at one of our sites. It is a weekly commitment for the 10-week quarter. Coaches work with the athletes in a variety of sports and recreational activities in a low pressure setting with a trained facilitator. No athletic or coaching experience necessary. Transportation is provided by our organization. Please email Tom Couring couring@gmail.com and Rachel Leffel rleffel34@gmail.com with any questions about becoming a coach.

JOIN A COMMITTEE:

Student Outreach
Student Outreach is responsible for organizing on-campus programming designed to bring Special Olympics athletes and Northwestern students together. Events include Sports Night, the Valentine’s Day Dance, Developmental Disabilities Day, and Olympic Town on the day of the games. We’re always interested in new events too!

Education
This committee will work to educate the Northwestern campus about intellectual disabilities as well as to provide opportunities for the athletes. The primary focus of this committee is to run the Life Skills class, which is an interactive class led by NU students to teach basic life skills to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Some of the responsibilities will include running firesides and information sessions and creating educational materials in order to raise awareness. This committee is also responsible for recruiting and coordinating volunteers for the Day of the Games in May.

Sports
This committee is responsible for planning and running the events at the track and field meet in May. Members of this committee will coordinate bullpens, timers, and awards for the variety of track and field events. Throughout the school year Sports Committee also organizes floor hockey and basketball tournaments for the athletes and Northwestern students.

Publicity
This committee is responsible for all publicity, including the program for the games, local ads, news articles, press releases, and the website. Publicity often lets students know about our on-campus events through NULink, flyers, and the Daily Northwestern. This group also designs and orders t-shirts for events and writes the monthly newsletter.

Finance
This committee is charged with both off- and on- campus fundraising, ranging from corporate relations and local donations to bar nights and special events on campus. Alumni relations, as well as designing new fundraisers are this committee’s priority.

Special Events
The Special Events committee will plan and execute one of our largest fundraisers, a talent show. In past years, Special Events has put on Northwestern versions of “The Price is Right” and “Family Feud.” Additionally, this group will plan the on-campus events for the Week of the Games and organize all-committee meetings.