(Submitted by Wade Faucheaux)
THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls coaches, athletes and other students have gone above and beyond in helping Louisiana athletes with disabilities, and for those actions, the university will receive the 2017 Special Olympics Louisiana Outstanding School Award.
Nicholls athletic teams and campus organizations have hosted clinics on volleyball, track and field, tennis, flag football, golf and soccer, among others, in recent years for Special Olympics Louisiana athletes.
Nicholls will be honored on May 18 at the 2018 State Summer Games award ceremony in Hammond.
“We are extremely proud to receive this honor,” Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune said. “Helping these disabled athletes excel is just another way that Nicholls is serving the community.”
Nicholls and McNeese renewed their Unified Rivalry with a basketball game on Jan. 27 at the Harold Callais Memorial Rec Center. The game featured Special Olympics Louisiana athletes and university student partners.
Special Olympics Louisiana is a nonprofit that organizes more than 100 competitions annually with more than 15,000 athletes participating. The organization raised more than $2.8 million last year with the help of more than 18,000 volunteers.
“The efforts you exhibit today will benefit those with intellectual disabilities for the future,” said Pat Carpenter Bourgeois, president and CEO of Special Olympics Louisiana. “Special Olympics Louisiana has been proudly serving people for 50 years. We appreciate people like you, who strive to make a positive impact in our community and make a difference, one hour at a time.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2018
CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@www.nicholls.edu
