甜瓜视频app

A sea of purple and gold rippled with cheers from more than 500 fans as two teams of Catamounts stormed the court. Each player鈥檚 face was alive with excitement as they exited the tunnel to thunderous applause, an audience of their peers, their families and their community, beaming with pride.

甜瓜视频app鈥檚 Unite UP basketball game brought students from the University Participant program and Catamount student-athletes together for a first-of-its-kind face-off in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center this past March.

Founded in 2007, the UP program at 甜瓜视频app helps college-aged individuals with intellectual disabilities prepare for independent adult living. Participants choose their course of study and are paired with student mentors to attend classes and develop essential life skills over the course of two years.

The combined efforts of UP program leaders, WCU Athletics, the Division of Advancement, University Communications and Marketing and the Student Event Coalition brought new attention to a program that has innovated special education for nearly two decades.

Nine UP students of the 12-member program split up for the game, dribbling beside student partners and volunteers from men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 athletics in two teams as audience members streamed inside.

Devin Crisp, Jamaal Dion, McKenna Priebe, Grace Lee Oak and Kylie Andrews of the UP program played for team purple.

Emma Wright, Spencer Neil, Lucas Atencio and Ellie Black competed as the white team.

Alison Rathbone, Payton Hepler and Kai Price stood alongside WCU鈥檚 cheer team, livening up the crowd with shouts of 鈥減urple and gold!鈥�.

The excited roar of the growing audience only quieted when Alison Rathbone, a first-year student of the program, took center stage to perform the national anthem.

鈥淚 was really excited to hear about this unified basketball game,鈥� Rathbone said. 鈥淲e did one when I was in high school, and I got excited because I knew I was going to be reliving that day鈥� I've never got to do that in front of a basketball game before. I鈥檝e always wanted to.鈥�

Audience members wept for her soulful rendition before filling the arena with cheers again as the voice of announcer Ryan Hipps ushered players back on the court.

Tip-off began the moment after, and the sound of applause, squeaking sneakers and bouncing rubber served as the soundtrack for an incredibly tight and spirited night on the hardwood.

鈥淏eing out there, being a student-athlete for a day, that was probably one of the coolest experiences in my life that I will never forget,鈥� said Lucas Atencio, a second-year student of the program. 鈥淚t was just an electric feeling. I just felt like I was connecting with the crowd. They鈥檙e out here anticipating what I'm going to do next, what shenanigans I'm going to pull out鈥� It鈥檚 mind-blowing to me that so many people on this campus actually listen and care. They鈥檙e actually being there to show up for us, which to me and all of them (UP students) means the world.鈥�

Atencio鈥檚 sentiments were echoed by his peers, and those privileged to work with students in the program.

Nic Knox, a special education major and male support for the UP program, has volunteered with students since the beginning of his academic career at WCU. He emphasized his love for his job and friendships.

鈥淕etting involved with the UP program my freshman year really opened my eyes to how inclusive transition planning can be and how important it is to the students in the community,鈥� Knox said. 鈥淪eeing how incredible they are and just how much life transformation happens after college, it's really made me want to pursue that further.鈥�

To Neil, a second year UP student with plenty of basketball experience, the court 鈥渇eels like home.鈥�

鈥淚 felt a lot of excitement, but you just go with the flow. This game means a lot to us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want to make a good impact. We want to make more students feel welcome here, and I want to make that happen.鈥�

Each half of the game was packed with action, 3-pointers, free throws and layup combinations that exuded skill and Catamount pride.

As is at any other WCU game, the fan experience was only complete with performances from the Pride of the Mountains pep band and the Purple Thunder drumline. By the buzzer, the white team just edged out the purple team with a final score of 25-21.

Family and fans gathered in the Ramsey Center lobby afterward; hundreds lined up for autographs and a press conference.

The teams鈥� monumental success was felt all around, and those responsible for organizing the experience were proud to watch their community come together to support them.

Alex Mathis, program coordinator and adjunct instructor, has served in nearly every role in the UP program. Its emphasis on true inclusion, said Mathis, is how it became the first of its kind to be accredited by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council in 2023.

鈥淲hen Dr. Kelly Kelley started the program in 2007, one of the first things that really made the program was it was designed by practicing teachers who knew what was needed in special education,鈥� Mathis said. 鈥淓ighteen years later we still practice that.鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 an individualized program, and I think that鈥檚 really the thing that sets us apart from all the other programs that are out there. If a student wants something, it鈥檚 their decision. They run their schedule, they run their classes, they run their job sites. It鈥檚 all their decision at the end of the day.鈥�

Proud parents were among those cheering loudest in the stands on game night.

鈥淪he鈥檚 busy enjoying her college life, and likes the independence that she鈥檚 gaining, so she鈥檚 doing great,鈥� said Hepler鈥檚 parents, Philip and Linda. 鈥淲e have so much trust in the program and the faculty and the staff, and we know she鈥檚 taken care of and in good hands, so it helps us not worry so much.鈥�

In addition to cheering during the game, Hepler also designed all marketing materials displayed to advertise and showcase players.鈥淭he support of the students and that partnership is just huge, for Emma, and all the kids in the UP program,鈥� said Barbie and Brad Wright about their daughter, 鈥渂ut I think for the students that are here that are fixing to go and be teachers, it鈥檚 just as big if not bigger鈥� It鈥檒l help them help another kid someday.鈥�

Data demonstrates the facts of UP students鈥� success from participating in the program. Ninety percent of UP students are employed in a paid community job by the end of their time, and 55% live in their own home or apartment. This is in sharp contrast to the national average, with 17% employed and 13% in their own home.

The Unite UP game was only possible with the inspired efforts of the Student Event Coalition. Their flagship event was a wild success.

Ben Howard and Abigail Howerton, president and vice president at its helm, coordinated with multiple academic departments and rallied 125 volunteers to make the dream reality. Their hard work was visible from the locker room to the arena.

鈥淚t truly took a village to put on,鈥� Howerton said. 鈥淚 feel like we were just a small portion of it.鈥�

Running the show from the courtside to the locker rooms of the Ramsey Center, organizing music, food and scheduling, Howard and Howerton saw the success of their event as a clear demonstration of WCU鈥檚 selfless sense of community.

鈥淭his was seeing different departments, all with different goals, all have the same question of 鈥榳hat can we do?鈥欌�� Howard said. 鈥淚t brought the university and these departments together in a way that I personally haven鈥檛 seen.鈥�

Howard and Howerton are already looking to organize next year鈥檚 events, overwhelmed by the public support the university received from current students and decades of alumni alike.

WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown described the game as 鈥渏ust one of the many things the UP program does to help bring all of our students together.鈥�

There was never a truer, louder exclamation point of Catamount spirit.