High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

The Special Olympics Florida: A Service Learning Experience

The Special Olympics Florida: A Service Learning Experience

Streaming Media

Course Code

LDR

Course Number

3215

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Virginia Koch

Faculty/Instructor Email

Virginia.Koch@ucf.edu

About the Author

Brooke Leggiero is asecond-year LEAD Scholar and nursing student at the University of Central Florida. This semester, she learned about citizenship in leadership through service with the Special Olympics Florida.

She would like to thank Kevin Lienard, the Special Olympics Florida Seminole County softball head coach for allowing her to be a part of the amazing work for the Special Olympics.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

In serving with the Special Olympics Florida to provide sports and training to athletes with intellectual dissabilities, there were three key insights learned. The first is that unexperienced willingness is more valued than unengaged talent. Then, communication is the road that good leadership travels on. Last, organization and preparation are important, but flexibility makes them golden. Each of these key insights is important in having good citizenship as a leader. Being willing is an essential piece to taking responsibility for your community. Communication allows you to lead as a community member, not just a solo leader. Flexibility allows you to work well with others in the community to address continually arising problems.

Keywords

inclusion; sports; leadership; service-learning; Specail Olympics; community; health

The Special Olympics Florida: A Service Learning Experience


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