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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
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Special Olympics participants smile with their awards. The group participated in activities including volleyball, other games and face painting. “[I love getting to help all the kids get to experience something fun like this,” Sophi Stayhorn (12) said.
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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
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To conclude the opening ceremony, representatives from every school run the torch around the gym and begin the festivities. Lucy Budke (10) and her buddy were chosen to participate in the honorary event. “It was super cool to be apart of,” Budke said. “The entire day was so much fun and I’m so glad I could participate.”
Ladue hosts a volleyball Special Olympics event Nov. 12. The event is an opportunity to bring together students, athletes and community members to celebrate inclusion and teamwork.
Special Olympics is an opportunity for students with intellectual disabilities to take part in different sports and activities. This experience however is not limited to fun on the court or field, but rather an opportunity to meet new friends and build lasting connections.
“[I love] getting to see the kids super excited to make new friends and do things that they don’t get to do every day,” Nylah Saffold (12) said.
While the event does offer social benefits, the players do not let this take away from any of the event’s competitive nature. As teams rotate through games, it remains a priority to play hard and have fun during the matches.
“[The games] have been good, and we have done really well, and it was super fun,” Saffold said.
While Special Olympics is only one day of games, the memories built during those moments continue to inspire the individuals involved. Eric Hurt (12) explains that some of his fondest memories during high school took place during Special Olympics.
“Last year during the volleyball games, it was my buddy’s birthday, and he was super excited to be there,” Hurt said. “That was a really amazing day and something I will always remember.”
![Team representatives Hotaru Murashita (11) and Regina Copeland (10) play rock paper scissors for the winning prize. The club hopes to continue to implement new meetings every year. “About a month ago, we pitched [the idea], and Madame Milford helped us obtain the croissants and jams,” Secretary Arlo Ziolkowski (11) said.](https://laduetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FHS-April-8-1200x900.jpg)
