Featured Story
Special Connection to Special Olympics
St. Luke’s annual Special Olympics basketball tournament was once again a huge success as the players were fueled with by the enthusiasm from our spring varsity athletes. This year was extra special with St. Luke’s Sadie Vehslage ‘20 on the court participating as a New Canaan YMCA Team Buddy.
Center for Leadership Director Kate Parker-Burgard said, “Sadie’s active involvement as a Special Olympics Buddy started with a simple CFL announcement seeking mentors for special needs teens and young adults. It took no time at all for Sadie to become comfortable with the participants. She quickly became a kind and enthusiastic coach and mentor for them. Throughout the school year, Sadie spends 2½ hours every Thursday working with special needs teens and adults (ages 12-30) and loves it. She has come to appreciate the value of connecting with people so different from her. One young woman Sadie has bonded with is non-verbal and needs help walking, but that doesn’t stop them from sharing hearty laughs.”
Parker-Burgard concluded, “The best part about it, Sadie notes, is how happy the program participants so often are. They are not bothered by the differences as much as they relish the similarities, a perspective that Sadie has come to embrace as well.”
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
