Wingate, N.C.----“Let me win...but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This is the Special Olympics Oath. Over three million brave athletes participate in Special Olympics each year. This year, 37 athletes braved the waters on campus at Wingate University as they participated in Special Olympics Swimming. The Silver Sharks, as they are called, have grown significantly over the past seven years.

In the fall of 2003, I was a junior student-athlete at Wingate University as well as the co-captain of the varsity women’s swimming team. Prior to my time at Wingate, I was involved in a Special Olympics Swimming Program in Northern Virginia. Each Saturday, my teammates and I would gather to work with Special Olympians on their swimming skills. I valued my experience with Special Olympics so much; I wanted to give my college teammates the opportunity to work with these brave and determined individuals.

I began by contacting the Special Olympics representative in Union County. She helped us to plan our first four-week session, market our program to Special Olympians in the area and register the athletes. In our first year, we were blessed to have 26 athletes sign up for our program. Every Saturday morning in April, we would meet at the pool to practice swimming. Since this was the first time swimming was being offered in our area in the last 10 years, our goal was simply to teach the athletes to swim for safety, fun and fitness.

We concluded our program with a celebration! Each athlete was awarded a medal for their bravery, hard work and participation. We all danced, ate pizza and enjoyed quality fellowship. Later in the spring, the Wingate University women’s swimming team (we didn’t have the men’s team at the time) was awarded the Union County Special Olympics Civic Group of the Year Award for all our hours of volunteering.

If I am not mistaken, this plaque still hangs on the wall in head coach Kirk Sanocki’s office. He has shown his dedication to Special Olympics by continuing the Special Olympics tradition at Wingate. This year, juniors Kelsey Trabue (South Lyon, Mich.) and Nicole Moody (Grovetown, Ga.) led the program. Kelsey has been instrumental in making Special Olympics at Wingate University an official sport in Union County. On Saturday, April 17, 2010, Wingate held the first official Special Olympics-sanctioned swim meet in Union County. The athletes competed in events like the 15-meter unassisted swim, the 25-yard freestyle, the 15-meter water walk and the 10-meter swim.

Looking back, I have many great memories of my time as a volunteer. I will never forget my first Special Olympics partner. Corey was about eight years old when we worked together. He came to Special Olympics each week so excited to see me. He would often bring me bright and colorful pictures he had drawn for me. Every Saturday always began with a hug. I also remember Michael who was a bit older and a great swimmer. He could also draw very well. He won our first t-shirt contest. He drew our mascot, the silver shark, which I often still see on the backs of t-shirts around our campus.

My passion for Special Olympics and assisting others is still strong. Recently, I was asked to be a member of the Board of Directors at Union Diversified Industries, a non-profit organization in Monroe, N.C. In my first tour of the facility, I was surprised to see so many familiar faces. I had seen these faces on Saturday mornings smiling and soaking wet in the Wingate University natatorium.

ABOUT CHRISTY COUSINS BOSTIC

Christy Cousins Bostic and her senior classmates were the first four-year swimming letter winners in Wingate University history. A three-time All-Blue Grass Mountain Conference performer, she set school records in the 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay and 800 Free Relay her senior year.

Thanks to the efforts of Bostic and her relay mates, Wingate’s 200 Free Relay and 400 Free Relay team won conference championships at the 2005 BGMC meet. The Bulldogs won the BGMC championship crown both her junior and senior seasons.

Bostic earned a 2005 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship for winter sports. In addition, she was named the Arthur Joseph “Pepper” Geddings, Jr. Athletic Leadership Award at Wingate’s 2005 athletic awards ceremony (presented to the best overall student-athlete). Bostic won the Ann Hancock Scholarship in 2004 and the Wingate women’s swimming team Scholar-Athlete Award in 2003. She graduated summa cum laude at Wingate’s 2005 Commencement Exercises.

The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) voted Bostic to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® at-large second team (college division) in 2005. Bostic posted a 3.94 GPA in Communication Studies. Her accomplishments were not limited to the classroom and the pool. Bostic helped organize and lead a Special Olympics swimming program at Wingate University for two years. The Union County Special Olympics movement presented the Bulldog women’s swimming team with its Civic Group of the Year Award in the spring of 2005. Currently, Bostic serves as the Director of Wingate Society and Parent Relations at Wingate University.

ABOUT WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers 34 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.