Six student-athletes took part in a rewarding experience as volunteers in the Brownsville Independent School District Special Olympics Local Games Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium.

Baseball players Peter Maldonado and Juan Munoz, men's soccer players Steve Howard and Chris Scott, and women's soccer players Carling Rootes and Theresa Berman were involved in important activities in the awards area for the Special Olympians upon finishing their races in preparation for their awards.

More than 400 BISD students participated in the meet. There were more than 100 volunteers.

Upon the completion of more than 60 events, the student-athletes received the award recipients. They organized them for the gold, silver and bronze medals for the top three finishers, and ribbons for those who finished in fourth, fifth and sixth places.

As the announcing of the recipients of the races took place, the six Scorpions presented the winners with their medals and ribbons, bringing smiles to the faces of the Special Olympians.

"This was a very rewarding experience," Scorpion baseball student-athlete Peter Maldonado said. "The Special Olympians were so excited to receive medals and ribbons from us. You could tell just by looking at their faces how happy this was for them."

Theresa Berman congratulates race winner after presenting medal

The Scorpion student-athletes are accustomed to competitions on the field themselves, but assisting in this activity touched their lives as well.

"We take so many things for granted in our lives," women's soccer player Theresa Berman said. "It's not until you're involved in something like this do you realize how fortunate we are to be able to participate in athletics. This competition was just as important for them as playing for the conference championship was for us." 

Brownsville ISD Superintendent Brett Springston thanked all of the volunteers who assisted at the event. "We couldn't do this without all of our volunteers out here today," Springston said. "That's what makes the Special Olympics so special."