My name is Airel Stewart, and I hail from Midlothian, Texas. I am a senior biology major with a minor in both African-American studies and English at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU).
Within the context of my major, I am pre-med and an aspiring doctor. During my freshman year, I secured an internship at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Waxahachie, Texas, where I could experience clinical rotations throughout the hospital. I shadowed at Family Healthcare in Arlington, Texas, under the tutelage of Dr. Patrick Kobett, a family practicing medical doctor. Now, I am usually interning during the winter, spring, and summer breaks if I am not in school.
However, I think my proudest moment so far in my undergraduate career is chartering a Special Olympics organization on campus and adding Prairie View A&M University to the Unified Champion Schools list through Special Olympics Texas (SOTX). I began the journey during my freshman year. Since then, I have both participated and presented groundwork to multiple people on and off campus, such as PVAMU President Ruth Simmons and others of the like. Unfortunately, this endeavor was placed on hold due to the current pandemic known as the coronavirus.
But this year, it happened.
The Special Olympics’ strategic vision is to unite college students and individuals with intellectual disabilities by developing and enhancing a culture of acceptance and inclusion. Together, these components help students work both for and with Special Olympics athletes to help transform school campuses into communities of acceptance and respect through sports, friendship, and advocacy.
At Prairie View A&M University, one of the institutional core values is diversity. Moreover, the university seeks to foster access, inclusion, and social responsibility. We have held the mentioned core values for many years. However, this project further makes tangible those goals and values by implementing activities at PVAMU, providing collaboration, and a venue for children with special needs to showcase their athletic talents, in addition to college students, faculty, and staff supporting this service-learning.
My Introduction to Special Olympics
I first encountered the Special Olympics during my high school years. I was highly active and was well rounded, regarding activities, from Girl Scouts, track and field, choir, theatre, band, and more. Due to my immune system and some medical conditions, I had to withdraw from all of these undertakings. Once my schedule was completely free, my cross-country coach, Coach Williams, suggested I come with her to an event. Little did I know this event would change my life; it was the Special Olympics!
A couple of my friends and I were divided amongst grade-level participants. I loved the experience, to say the least, and was immediately hooked. This was the type of acceptance and overwhelming love that one would receive from a family. The participants, coaches, and supporters were so full of joy. The entire event was beautiful. After that, I attended every possible event the school would allow until I graduated. I owe a massive thank-you to my high school coach. If it were not for her, then I never would have discovered one of my biggest passions.
After graduating from my small town, I assumed that every school had something close to the same program we had in our district. But imagine my surprise at a college involvement fair where there were all differing and incredible institutions, but there was nothing concerning Special Olympics.
A New Adventure at Prairie View
During my first year at PVAMU, I entered and placed first in the Annual Essay and Oratorical Contest, and it was this event that connected me to the university’s administration. The night that I won, and after vocalizing the idea of hosting Special Olympics on “The Hill” to my dad and two best friends Rayven and Chris, I decided that I was going to put in the work and make this happen before my graduation.
The first person on campus that I mentioned this to was my biology professor, Dr. George Brown, and then Dr. Harriette Block, Ms. Belinda Lewis, Ms. Jenta Young, Professor Mingle Moore (Pro’ Mo’), and Dr. Kay Norman. They all hold faculty and staff positions at PVAMU. I call them the A-Team because we are a family-like group.
After drafting an official proposal and spamming SOTX’S email, both Dr. Block and Dr. Brown suggested I present my idea to President Simmons. In all honesty, I was beyond nervous about this presentation. After introductions, I opened my laptop and showed my exhibition to her. After my title slide, and in between transitioning to the second slide, President Simmons said, “I’m in. What can my office and I do to help?” I will never forget that. I was so amazed and confused. I remember shaking under the table.
After that meeting, things set in motion. A group of us started an organization called Panther Buddies and Juniors (PB&J), created in my dorm’s living room. This was strictly student-driven for three years until the spring of 2020, as we did not have an official advisor until that time. This organization is the bridge between the Special Olympics and the university. We eventually had a campus-wide presentation, and the following week, the original advisors, some representatives from SOTX, and Dr. Tondra Moore here on campus voted on a logo. Last year around this time, we had a basketball tournament planned with SOTX, but COVID took the world by storm and placed everything on hold. But from there, it is history.
From meeting Head Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Angela Williams and Mr. Tony Daniels, director of Rec Sports, and meeting with differing people from each department, this event was a team effort. From my parents, my Aunt Phyliss and Uncle Shon, all the way to my secretary, Torri James, and my new VP Antonio Daniels, Chene Noel, and my other VP and Undergraduate Medical Academy Director, Dr. Dennis Daniels, I could not have achieved this by myself. The President’s Office and deans from each college were also monumental in putting this event together.
The Big Picture
My proudest achievement is collaborating with Special Olympics and being part of making an athlete’s day better. Being part of the societal “normal” population makes it easy to create a mountain out of a molehill concerning everyday inconveniences. The athletes and their caretakers experience things that most people will never understand. People do not think about the intersectionality of health care for athletes. But being around K-12 athletes and their caretakers makes it eye-opening to see how happy these participants are day-to-day.
I think that my fellow staff, students, and faculty should volunteer for these types of events because they have so many dimensions, as it touches your heart and recharges your community, just to name a few. The focus is to encourage and uplift people with disabilities and maximize both empathy and understanding within the education system and student community to create and understanding. In the end, each child offers a gift unto the world.
Most will shy away from the “uniqueness” of these individuals, while others will accept and embrace them. The Special Olympics is another world for kids, where they can be themselves and not be judged but celebrated. The more people who become aware of PV’s Special Olympics, and Special Olympics overall, the more we can make a difference in children’s lives and change the world.
On April 16, Prairie View A&M University hosted seven teams from the Greater Houston and Beaumont areas for the Special Olympics of Texas regional event, making it the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to host a Unified UIL Track Meet in partnership with Special Olympics Texas.