GAME DAY, THEIR WAY
Students Power Special Olympics Basketball Tournament As the scoreboard lights up, the shoes start to squeak and the crowd begins to cheer—a memorable day is underway at Nicoson Hall. “This is real-world,” VanSickle said. “Oftentimes in a class, it’s a case study or a mock interview. This is not that. What’s the best way to teach event management? Do it.”
“You only learn by doing,” said Queen Baker ’26 (Sport Management). “Trial and error. Experience is life’s best teacher.” The tournament is one-of-a-kind, the only youth basketball tournament for Special Olympics athletes in the world. Teams from across Indiana make the trip with hopes of winning a gold medal. UIndy serves as more than a venue, it becomes an inclusive environment and a stage for athletes to showcase their abilities. Weeks of preparation lead to game day. Setting up,
Standing just off the court, Dr. Jennifer VanSickle, chair of the Kinesiology, Health & Sport Sciences department, feels the familiar mix of excitement and nerves as the University of Indianapolis hosts another Special Olympics basketball tournament. Once the ball is tipped, she steps back, and her students step forward. Her students are not just spectators; they are the engine behind the entire tournament. Special Olympics Indiana provides the teams and the rules. Everything else is up to them. They coordinate volunteers, run game operations, promote the event, and implement safety protocols.
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UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
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