The first Unified Turkey Bowl bowling tournament will be held 9 a.m. Saturday at Premiere Lanes Oxford.
The Unified Turkey Bowl is a one-day bowling tournament, pairing two Special Olympic athletes with two partners, for three games. Proceeds will go toward Special Olympics Mississippi.
Ole Miss education major Mary Evelyn Webb, president and founder of Special Olympics College at Ole Miss, first got involved with Special Olympics in high school. She participated in unified basketball and soccer and volunteered with other events.
Webb said she found an opportunity to do the same thing at Ole Miss by starting SO College last spring.
“When I got to college, there were not as many opportunities to get involved, so that is why I jumped at the chance to get involved with unified sports,” Webb said.
SO College’s goal is to promote a place of acceptance and unity, while building relationships.
“It is all about bridging the gap,” Webb said. “We like to get people to understand that unified sports are for everyone.”
Amanda Alpert, Campus Recreation coordinator and SO College advisor, said she believes Campus Recreation’s relationship with Special Olympics allows students to connect with the community.
“Even though we are a campus department, connecting with our community partners is essential to our success,” Alpert said.
Webb and Alpert encourage everyone to volunteer at least once for Special Olympics.
Webb said she believes it truly is something one must experience while here at Ole Miss.
“When you step onto the field, or court, boundaries and walls are broken down, and it is all about friendships within the competition,” Webb said. “It is just a truly incredible atmosphere.”
Unified sports are a fast-growing initiative where people with and without intellectual disabilities come together to compete against one another.
Brian Veverka, the graduate assistant for intramural sports and sports clubs, is directing the bowling tournament. He said he is looking forward to giving back to Special Olympics Mississippi.
In the past, the Department of Campus Recreation has hosted a variety of events including the Color My College 5K, a Unified Egg Bowl and a unified flag football game against the University of Alabama.
They have also sold game-day buttons to help raise money for Special Olympics Mississippi.
Special Olympics College program functions as an official club on campus and connects students and individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports to build friendships and help lead the social justice movement of Special Olympics, according to the Special Olympics website.
“I cannot wait for everything to come together because our team has been working so hard,” Veverka said. “ We have raised over $1,000 for Special Olympics Mississippi, and we are hoping to raise an additional $500 at the event.”
