Father Ryan High School did not have classes Monday, but plenty of students were still on campus.
The school once again played host to the Special Olympics of Nashville and more than 350 students showed up to volunteer.
“This is a great event,” said Tim Forbes, Dean of Student Life and Campus Ministries at Father Ryan. “Not just for Father Ryan, but for the Nashville community. We have students here from Hume-Fogg and Vanderbilt too. It’s a great day for Nashville.”
More than 400 athletes from the Nashville area competed in six events: 50 meter dash, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, standing long jump, and the softball throw.
Individual scores aren’t important at events like this. The only result that matters is the joy the athletes display by competing.
Upon arrival, every athlete was greeted by the 350+ Father Ryan student volunteers forming an applause tunnel into the Jim Carell Athletic Complex where they would register to compete.
“The athletes running through the tunnel and hear the cheering. For me, that’s probably my favorite,” Forbes said. “Having our students welcome and greet other members of the community onto our campus.”
Giving back to the community is right in Father Ryan’s motto: “A tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service”.
Partnering with the Special Olympics for the past several years has become of the utmost importance.
“For us it is paramount and is an extension of the school’s mission,” said Forbes. “To be able to not only come out and serve – to witness this incredible event – but for us to see how these athletes compete and see the spirit in which they do so.”
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