Unity College Students to Serve at 2007 Special Olympics of Maine, January 28-30th

Unity, Maine – January, 2007 –  In a longstanding tradition extending over a dozen years, students from Unity College will serve as volunteers to the Special Olympics of Maine.  Fourteen of the twenty-two volunteers from Unity College are part of a class called Universal Programming taught by Associate Professor J. Andrew McInnes.  “The class focuses on approaches for outdoor recreation therapy for individuals with special needs and the learning that occurs as a result of this experience is outstanding,” McInnes said.

     Seven of the student volunteers were sponsored by the Office of the Provost.  “This is good practical field experience for my major,” said Zach Schmesser ’08, an Adventure Education / Adventure Therapy major from Clarksboro, New Jersey.  “It is also a great chance to help some exceptional people have a great time.”

     The volunteers will be assisting in activities during the 2007 Special Olympics of Maine State Level Competition on January 28 to 30^th at Sugarloaf USA in Kingfield, Maine. 

     Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources.  Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.