In order to maintain the essence of Heart of the Matter, the students who share their hearts with us will remain anonymous.
This past weekend, campus was abuzz with joy for Villanova’s 37th-annual Fall Festival. Special Olympics athletes from across the state gathered to compete—cheered on by family, coaches and Villanova students. Fall Fest feels magical for many reasons, but the most special moments are the small ones: forming a bond with an athlete while dancing in O-Town, cheering on a team as they celebrate a hard-earned win or witnessing an athlete accomplish a personal best. These are the memories that make this weekend such a beloved one.
The memory-making started off early with Opening Ceremonies on Friday, complete with the torch-lighting, streamer toss and procession of the competing counties.
“My favorite moment was the procession during Opening Ceremonies,” a senior and Ceremonies Volunteer Coordinator (VC) said. “Being able to see the pride and joy on the athletes’ faces meant so much to me and I was so glad to see their hard work celebrated.”
So much preparation and training goes into athletes’ performances at Fall Fest, and this does not go unrecognized by volunteers, who happily act as their cheerleaders for the weekend.
“My favorite part about SpO weekend was being able to cheer on and support all the athletes on the flag football field,” a member of Inclusion Crew said. “They’ve been working so hard for all of this, and it was such a fun opportunity to be able to be there to support them.”
Meaningful Fall Fest moments are shared not only on the field or the court, but also in O-Town. Here, athletes and volunteers get to sing and dance together, leaving their cares behind and celebrating the fruits of their hard work.
“Saturday in O-Town, I was watching the Irish Dance Team perform, and an athlete was dancing alongside them,” a SpO Committee member said. “I chose not to get up and dance with the team themselves, but I happened to be standing with an LPH who is also on the dance team with me, and we were also near a girl in an Ice Cube who was on the Dance Team, as well, so the three of us went over and just started dancing with him. We just danced in a circle with him and he wanted these LPHs to join in and it was just so much fun. It was an awesome moment.”
Impromptu dance parties are far from unusual in O-Town, but the annual LPH flash mob, performed throughout the weekend, also provides many memorable moments. Athletes often join in on the fun, making it all the more fun.
“One thing that stood out to me was during each flash mob when the athletes came out and danced with us,” one LPH said of her first Fall Fest. “Their energy was contagious, and seeing all the athletes’ excitement is something I will never forget.”
The respect and bond formed between athletes and those involved in Fall Fest is special, whether formed during the weekend or throughout the year. However, some do not realize that there are athletes who have a big hand in shaping Fall Fest and making changes to improve the experience for others. These athlete representatives are some of the weekend’s unsung heroes, so the opportunity to recognize them was an important one.
“I had the chance to present our athlete rep with a ‘your choice’ award on behalf of Volleyball Committee at her awards ceremony for her competition,” the Committee Member said. “She has attended all of our meetings since March. Every Wednesday night she came and hung out in the lounge with us. She just provided such incredible insight into the athlete experience and changes that needed to be made. She was also just hysterical and an incredible person to be around. The two of us were crying and hugging when I handed it to her.”
Whether through happy tears or sideline celebrations, the joy that radiates from this weekend is contagious, and newfound friendship and mutual appreciation are expressed freely throughout.
“I feel like there were so many times I went in for a high five and it turned into a hug,” another VC said. “There were so many hugs.”
Fall Fest undeniably creates lasting memories for athletes and volunteers alike, leaving us all feeling a little more joyful than when the weekend began. So, keep your favorite moments close all through the year. Let the countdown to next Fall Fest begin.
