Vernon Hills High School Makes a Difference by Raising Awareness of D128 Special Olympics

The Community High School District 128 Special Olympians recently participated in a very special event at Vernon Hills High School. The Storm White and Black basketball teams, comprised of Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School students, faced each other for an evening of fun, a chance to "pack the place," and an opportunity to raise awareness and money for the D128 Special Olympics program.

The event was the brainchild of VHHS senior Brandon Ferrara. Ferrara had a three-fold interest in organizing the project. He is a VHHS student who volunteers with the D128 Special Olympics team, he is working on his Eagle Scout project, and his brother is a Special Olympian.

"I started volunteering for Special Olympics my sophomore year of high school," Ferrara explained. "I didn't know much about it before then, but once my twin brother, Nathan, was recruited to play in the program, I became more aware and started to help them out." When his brother started participating, he would attend the floor hockey, soccer, and basketball games cheering them on. "Sometimes, I'd sit on the bench with them, keep score, and help them get their equipment. I'd either be a supporting and enthusiastic fan, or a part of the management of the team," he explained

Ferrara's inspiration for making this his Eagle Scout Project was very personal. "I wanted to pick a project that would be close to me and something that I care dearly about, while also helping the community and uniting Special Olympics and the community as a whole," he explained. After watching many Special Olympic competitions throughout the years, he realized that D128 Special Olympians deserve recognition and should be considered a great and honored part of the community.

"My goals for the project were to raise awareness for the Special Olympics program and to get the community behind the idea," he explained. Another one of his goals was to raise money for District 128's program in general, whether it be for new equipment, trip costs, lunches at tournaments or something else. "I wanted it to be a fun experience for not only the players but for the fans as well. Hopefully, after this event, more people are aware of the program and are more eager to attend the games and support the athletes."

Thank's to Ferrara's enthusiasm and careful planning, the evening was a well-attended success. In addition to parents filling the bleachers, there was a student fan section and participation by the VHHS cheerleaders. Ferrara hopes that this will become an annual event that will continue to raise support and awareness for the D128 Special Olympians.

For more information about the D128 Special Olympics program, contact Coach Andy Compton at andy.compton@d128.org.