The LSU Special Olympics Club kicked off its first semester on campus with a field day on the Parade Grounds.
Students and club members gathered on the lawn to play games and socialize, as well as bring attention to the organization on Nov. 17.
Ava Benfiglio, club president, has been involved in the Special Olympics through her brother since high school. After getting invited to a conference for the Special Olympics and learning about all of the clubs at other universities, Benfiglio knew she wanted to bring the opportunity to LSU students.
“My brother has cerebral palsy, and I’ve been involved in the Special Olympics with him since my junior year of high school,” Benfiglio said. “I was like, this could be great, I already know a bunch of people who could be involved, and LSU just got their community program where special needs students can attend classes. So I thought it would be really good to get everyone connected in the community.”
From kickball to basketball, students had fun and enjoyed the beautiful weather on campus, while participating in a range of fun activities together. Complete with a good playlist and good spirits, this event was an LSU community hit.
“I love it,” LSU Special Olympics club member Avalon Burner said. “It’s really humbling to see all these kids living their best lives.”
This is LSU Special Olympic Club’s first semester as an organization on campus, and it’s already hit the ground running. Executive board members, in matching red shirts, helped guide attendees through events of the day to make sure all participants had a positive experience. Benfiglio shared that the club plans to introduce a basketball league in the spring, and will continue to host events like field day.
“It means a lot, I’m so glad to see kids getting involved on campus and all the joy in their faces,” Benfiglio said. “It’s really just touching, because when my brother was younger, we didn’t have these types of things. So now seeing all of this evolve and become connected has really meant a lot.”
Shelby Davis, vice president of the LSU Special Olympics Club, also has a personal connection to the mission of the organization.
“My little brother has down syndrome, and he is the light of my life,” Davis said. “He is my best friend. Growing up with him showed me the importance of events like this and just getting him more involved in the community, because he is different from us. Just trying to get them to do stuff with us and make sure they aren’t left out in anything and can be like a neurotypical kid for a day.”
Benfiglio and Davis’ brothers were both present at the event, and the sisters beamed with pride. All the hard work and planning put into this event had finally paid off.
“It’s amazing, nothing matches this feeling,” Davis said. “Working with this club, and starting it from the ground up, finally having an event with students and our club members is amazing.”
To keep up with the LSU Special Olympics Club and find ways to get involved, make sure to follow @specialolympicslsu on Instagram.
