LIFE ON HIMES
Let the
GAMES
Begin
The Dads’ Club
hosts the Special
Olympics at Jesuit
On a perfect spring Saturday at
Jesuit High School, all of the elements
came together for another
fantastic Hillsborough County Special
Olympics.
The remarkable team effort between
the Jesuit Dads' Club and Special Olympics
Florida–Hillsborough County (led
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coalesced March 24 on campus.
Supported by hundreds of volunteers,
including more than 200 Jesuit students,
the end result saw 700 Special Olympics
athletes enjoy a wonderful opportunity
to showcase their competitive athletic
talents.
Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster Orestes
Destrade set a festive tone as the Grand
Marshal at the Parade of Athletes and
Opening Ceremonies. Throughout the
day, Destrade watched the events and
engaged with the athletes, volunteers,
and spectators.
During the Opening Ceremonies,
Michael Lennartz '18, who has provided
more than 400 service hours to the
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Larry Timmer Heart Award. Dads' Club
president John Perez, P '18 also accepted
an award for the Dads' Club.
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and cycling at Corral Memorial Stadium,
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and the Motor Activity Training Program
for athletes with profound intellectual
or physical disabilities took place in the
Student Commons. Across Dale Mabry
Hwy, Hillsborough Community College
hosted the volleyball and tennis competitions.
The athletes were competing to
advance to the Special Olympics Florida
8 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • SPRING 2018
State Games on May 18-19 at ESPN
Wide World of Sports. Throughout the
day-long competition at Jesuit, they
enjoyed a respite of fun and games at
the Olympic Village inside the Tiger
Palace, and the McDonald's lunches that
were donated by Caspers Company.
It marked the third straight year Jesuit
High School and the Dads' Club hosted
the annual regional Special Olympics,
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Florida 2018 Area 8 Summer Games.
Spearheading the Dads' Club effort
were Ron Battle, P '16, '21, Kevin O'Brien,
P '12, '15, Ernie Garateix, P '21, Matt
Swezey, P '21, and Mike Crochet, P '07.
Founded in the 1960s, today Special
Olympics Inc. is the world's largest
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TOP: Guilson Chua ’19 and Jack Allgeier ’20 were among
more than 200 student volunteers helping at events such
as bocce
BOTTOM: Ken Roop, P '13, '17, SOF-HC Director, with Heart
Award recipient Michael Lennartz '18