Mount students making a difference at Special Olympics
Erin Fox
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Special Olympics Maryland and Mount St. Mary's Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics are teaming up spring semester to offer a class in program management with hopes of Mount students taking on leadership roles in the annual Special Olympics' Fall Sports Fest in 2008.
"Sport is a powerful vehicle for change," says Mike Bovino, Special Olympics consultant.
The class, Program Development in Special Olympics, will count as three credits and will prepare students for the responsibility of coordinating an event.
"Fall Sports Fest would be the culminating experience for the course," says Melissa Kelly, director of competition for Special Olympics Maryland.
The goal is for students to take the class in the spring semester and then apply for an internship with Special Olympics Maryland in the fall of 2008 planning the Fall Fest.
"Students that do well in the class can be the top picks for the internship in the fall," says Kelly.
This idea comes from Villanova University where students organize and coordinate the Fall Fest. Kelly hopes the same will happen at Mount St. Mary's.
Dr. William Forgang, Chairman of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics says the class at the Mount will be an evening class once a week and will involve various guest speakers from Special Olympics Maryland and the Mount. The course will include lessons in public relations, marketing, event management, program planning and assessment coach's education, working with people with intellectual disabilities and volunteer management among others.
"This course and the internship opportunities are an exciting vehicle for students to get hands-on management experience while providing service to the community," says Forgang.
"I am pleased to collaborate with Special Olympics Maryland and with the opportunities for Mount students to work with Special Olympics athletes.
Program Development in Special Olympics could count as credit towards business, communications and sport management majors according to Forgang.
Tom Waite is the Senior Vice President of sports for Special Olympics and will be the contact professor for the course along with Dr. Julie Higgins, professor of sports management at the Mount.
"Sport is a powerful vehicle for change," says Mike Bovino, Special Olympics consultant.
The class, Program Development in Special Olympics, will count as three credits and will prepare students for the responsibility of coordinating an event.
"Fall Sports Fest would be the culminating experience for the course," says Melissa Kelly, director of competition for Special Olympics Maryland.
The goal is for students to take the class in the spring semester and then apply for an internship with Special Olympics Maryland in the fall of 2008 planning the Fall Fest.
"Students that do well in the class can be the top picks for the internship in the fall," says Kelly.
This idea comes from Villanova University where students organize and coordinate the Fall Fest. Kelly hopes the same will happen at Mount St. Mary's.
Dr. William Forgang, Chairman of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics says the class at the Mount will be an evening class once a week and will involve various guest speakers from Special Olympics Maryland and the Mount. The course will include lessons in public relations, marketing, event management, program planning and assessment coach's education, working with people with intellectual disabilities and volunteer management among others.
"This course and the internship opportunities are an exciting vehicle for students to get hands-on management experience while providing service to the community," says Forgang.
"I am pleased to collaborate with Special Olympics Maryland and with the opportunities for Mount students to work with Special Olympics athletes.
Program Development in Special Olympics could count as credit towards business, communications and sport management majors according to Forgang.
Tom Waite is the Senior Vice President of sports for Special Olympics and will be the contact professor for the course along with Dr. Julie Higgins, professor of sports management at the Mount.
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