This past weekend, several undergraduate athletic training students from Missouri State University (MSU) traveled to Neosho, Missouri to provide volunteer medical coverage for a Special Olympics of Missouri (SOMO) basketball tournament. Let and supervised by certified athletic trainer and MSAT graduate student, Amy Smith, these athletic training students were able to gain experience with this athletic population.
When reflecting on the experience, Amy, who is heavily involved with the SOMO stated “We had a really good time at the tournament. The students all had great questions and interest in this setting opportunity. We handed out a few bandaids and also had an ankle injury to assess which was a great experience for the students. We made a few new friends and I was able to see some athletes I had interacted with before. It’s always a heart warming experience to be with these athletes, especially when they remember you from other events.”
If you are interested in volunteering in future SOMO events as part of the medical team, please contact Kristin Tivener (MSU faculty) at KTivener@MissouriState.edu. The SOMO sunner games will be held on the campuses of MSU and Drury this upcoming May 29-31st, 2015 and volunteers are needed! Kristin will be following up with an announcement/call for medical volunteers in March/April for this event.