Welcome Athletes!

Are you all Ready for the 2009 Fall Festival? It's just days away so get ready!

Management Team Spotlight

Each week our Management Team picks an athlete to be "Athlete of the Week." A biography of this athlete is then presented to committee during our Wednesday night meetings and is posted online.

Christopher W. Jagielski
Allegheny County

Chris is a recent 2009 inductee to the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, and for good reason. Chris has earned over 184 medals (including 114 gold) during his 13 year tenure with Special Olympics. Chris competes on a high level in track and field, soccer, basketball, and bowling, but his sport of choice is clearly golf. His extraordinary ability golfing led him to compete in the World Summer Games in Shanghai, China in 2007, where he displayed incredible sportsmanship. The Villanova Special Olympics Committee commends Chris on his outstanding achievements.

Samantha's Bio

Name: Samantha Weitz
Hometown: Lansdale, PA
Position on Committee: Athlete Liason to the Fall Festival Committee
Job/Occupation: Special Education Assistant
Years Participating in Special Olympics and Sports Played: 17 years. I play soccer, floor hockey, and I go horseback riding
Favorite Sport: Horseback riding
Favorite color: Purple
Favorite Movie: Twilight, Wild Hearts Cannot Be Broken
One Thing Your Friends Don’t Know About You: That I watch Wheel of Fortune.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I horseback ride every week
Favorite Meal/Food: Pizza
Dream Vacation: Israel
Favorite Song to Sing Out Loud: The Sweet Escape
Favorite T.V. Show: Gray’s Anatomy

Samantha Weitz is the athlete representative on the Management Team for Villanova Special Olympics. Samantha will be answering some journal questions about her experience and posting them here for you to read!

September 29, 2009

1) What is your favorite part of Special Olympics?
Being with all my friends, making new friends, playing all my sports and going to State Games.

2) What has been your past experience with Management Team for Fall Festival?
They all have been a very good experiences for me. I have learned to work with a team. I spoke at one of the events, something I have never done before. I am glad that I can help by telling the team what the athletes might want.

3) Can you tell us about the sports you compete in for Special Olympics?
I do horse back riding for summer games and this year I rode a horse name Oreo, he got his name because he is black and white, he is a big draft horse. We got the gold in two of our events - Dressage and Equitation. In dressage you ride to a test that is different patterns that you have to take the horse through. You go from letter to letter and you get a score. In Equation they are looking at me and how I use all my aids {like legs and hands and the seat} so they ask me to walk and trot, and sometimes cantor. I also play soccer at Fall Fest and Floor Hockey at winter games with Montgomery County. I like to do the team sports because I get to see my friends. I also use to swim, ski, roller skate, and play Roller Hockey, but I now only do 3 sports.

4) What do you enjoy the most about being on Management Team for Fall Festival?
I get to see what it takes to plan an event like Fall Festival. Working with the Management team and the committee and giving the committee information about what the Athlete's might like or what they my dislike. I also like all the people I meet.

5) If you could have one other position on committee what would it be? And what would you do in that position or change about it?
I am not sure, I would not like to be the Fall Festival Director. But maybe the Special Events person. I like planning the theme and decorations. I do not think I would change anything. Everyone does such a great job.

October 17, 2009

1) Where do you work during the school year?
I work at Knapp Elementary School as a Special Education Assistant.

2) How long have you been working there?
This is my eighth year in the North Penn School District.

3) What do you enjoy most about your job?
Being with the children all day and helping them with their work.

4) What’s one thing you make sure to tell all your students?
I tell my students a lot of things like telling them “if you have nothing nice to say do not say anything at all" and, "keep hands and feet to yourself." I also encourage them to read and have fun with each other. Everyday is a good day at school because we are learning together.

5) When you want to get away from work where do you go?
I go to my shore house in Margate City, New Jersey.

Questions for Samantha or ideas for O-Town? E-mail us!

Helpful Links

Want to see some pictures of last years Olympic Town and Opening Ceremonies?

Excited to Compete in this year's Fall Festival? Preview Competition Information and the Schedule

Special Olympics Office l 215 Dougherty Hall l 800 Lancaster Ave l Villanova, PA 19085 l (610) 519-7244 l info@villanovaspo.com