Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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 Jumping on the trampoline is one of the favorito activities of the day for young special Olympic participants. A warm spring day provides students with a chance to test their softball throwing ability. 19

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A chance to compete Will the contestants for the 50 yard dash please line up now? Six eager children lined up ready for the bang of the gun. From the beginning of morning registration on April 16, to the closing ceremony, similar announcements filled Pershing Arena for the 1977 Special Olympics. One-hundred and thirty handicapped children and their 60 university student chaperones participated in a variety of athletic events. The excitement began when the university band led the opening parade of contestants through the gymna- sium. Cardinal Key members, dressed as clowns, danced through the crowd, passing out brightly colored balloons. Contestants' families and friends, who had come from 23 schools in the area, were deeply involved throughout the day as they watched their children compete in athletic activities which are normally closed to them. The contestants, ranging in age from six to 19. strived equally hard to win the events they entered and clapped with joy or spontaneously hugged one of their chaperones after crossing the finish line and receiving that long awaited ribbon. Senior Mary Ann Cupp, the regional director of the Special Olympics, worked calmly with members of over 18 campus organiza- tions throughout the day organizing the events, providing lunch and other refreshments and medical services. Finally, the last event was completed and the contestants, chaperones and families watched as trophies were awarded to the winning schools. The Pershing Arena became quiet after the participants left for their homes or resident halls. Their chatter about the day's activities lingered after they were gone. After listening to their comments, it was hard to estimate who gained the most from the day—the actual contestants, their families, or the university students. —Suzie Brake Shari Workman assists a youngster on the uneven Parallel Bars. Steve Primm and Ed Tuileta organize the 50 yard dash throughout the morning. IS

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An international love song Wha, an opportunity! A year of nationwide singing tours, meeting important people and a few overseas visits, all in celebration of life and its people, must be a dream. Maybe, but for five NMSU students it became a memorable reality. Anne Brown, Diane Kassel, Mary Beth Harrington, Don McCollum and Jan Nelson were selected as members of Up With People, an independent, non-profit educational cooperation known around the world. Up With People programs are designed to establish communication and interaction between all people, develop new skills in the chosen young men and women, and find new approaches to education through experience. In being chosen as a cast member, students must be interviewed by the performing Up With People cast. There is no major interest in talent and no voice audition is necessary. NMSU participant Don McCollum said, You just have to really love people and be a flexible type of person.” Singing tours begin in July and are completed the following June. In just one year an Up With People cast will travel all over the states visiting colleges, orphanages, nursing homes, high schools and community events. In every new town the cast members stay with a host family. Usually up to two or three members stay with each individual family in the town. Although the same show is performed throughout the year, variations are made depending on season and location. Doing basically the same performance time after time may seem a little dull but according to McCollum, Every show you were singing for someone that you cared about whether it be your host family or a friend. Also, minor pranks were pulled to keep things alive.” Prior to the show the cast members gathered for a “green room” session to get psyched for the next performance. As McCollum put it, We are all young at heart in the green room. The Up With People show came to Kirksville on April 20. I thought the response here was super. It really felt good to do the show at home” said McCollum. A year with Up With People was an educational experience in which a real love for people led the way for these five students. — Diane Mennemeier The enthusiastic cast concluded the evening with their ovor popular song Up. Up With People. 20