Latest news with #SpecialOlympics
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Ridgetown grad honoured for sports, volunteerism at YMCA awards
A serious injury may have slowed down Skylar Rutledge, but it didn't keep her from suiting up for the Ridgetown Royals basketball, volleyball and slo-pitch teams. And it didn't prevent her from volunteering as a referee, scorekeeper, and helping out in other local sports at her school and in the community. The Ridgetown District High School graduate was honoured for her participation and volunteerism at the Chatham-Kent YMCA Celebration of Youth Awards ceremony. Rutledge was the recipient of the Sports and Recreation Award, sponsored by Chatham Pool Sharks. She was one of 11 award winners in various categories as the program honours local youth whose outstanding talents and achievements have made a difference in their community. The awards focus on youth who have demonstrated leadership, sensitivity to others, innovation, development of personal talents, overcoming personal challenges and service to the community. The award includes a $1,000 bursary. 'It means a lot to be recognized, especially in a way that helps further my education and career,' Rutledge said. 'It recognizes both overcoming struggles in sports because of my injury, but also all the other things I do outside of the everyday academics.' When she wasn't wearing the Royals' uniform, Rutledge could be seen volunteering her time to the Special Olympics, local badminton tournaments, and refereeing volleyball and soccer. 'And I don't think there is a sport where I wasn't a scorekeeper,' she added, with a laugh. Despite her injury, Rutledge still made an impact with the Royals as she was named RDHS's Female Academic Athlete of the Year and shared the title of Female Athlete of the Year with Meredith Anderson. Rutledge also received the McPherson Cup for the highest marks of an RDHS graduate who is continuing their education at the university level. Rutledge will be attending Carleton University in Ottawa, where she will be studying in the Bachelor of Nursing program, with her career goal of becoming a children's Nurse Practitioner. The YMCA Celebration of Youth Awards program honours local youth, aged 17-20, whose outstanding talents and achievements have made a difference in their community. The awards focus on youth who have demonstrated leadership, sensitivity to others, innovation, development of personal talents, overcoming personal challenges and service to the community. The Sports and Recreation category honours an individual who leverages the power of sport and recreation – whether through community or high school athletics, physical/mental health education, volunteering, refereeing or coaching – to promote and enhance positive well-being. There were five winners from Ursuline College and one each from Chatham-Kent Secondary School, Lambton-Kent Composite School, Pain Court Secondary, RDHS, as well as one from St. Clair College and Western University. The Celebration of Youth Awards are made possible by sponsorships from local businesses, organizations and individuals in Chatham-Kent. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Homewood officer back in the police chase as departments race for Special Olympics
Homewood police Officer Ken Norbut has a new appreciation when he watches NASCAR drivers on TV. Norbut, who recently joined the force in Homewood after 25 years in Chicago Ridge, has driven in just two auto races in his lifetime. The 51-year-old competed in the Illinois Special Olympics Five-O race at Grundy County Speedway in Morris the past two years representing the Chicago Ridge department. So, when NASCAR stars such as Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and the others race around the tracks for hours during an afternoon or evening event, Norbut has a keen admiration for them. 'One hundred percent I do,' Norbut said. 'Those guys, man. We only do 25 laps. It is tiring. When that adrenaline wears off and you are sore the next day because you are getting rocked and rolled in the car, it's something else. 'You do appreciate the NASCAR drivers. They are athletes themselves.' Norbut is planning on getting rocked and rolled again for a third time – this time representing the Homewood department. This year's running of the Five-O is back at the Grundy County track. It gets rolling after the gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday in Morris. As of Friday, Norbut was among the top 10 in donations collected for Special Olympics in connection with the race, joining Hometown's Nate Haubenreiser, Midlothian's Adam Thibo, Orland Hills' James Molloy, Crestwood's David Alexander, retired Chicago Ridge member Jake Cholke and Chicago Ridge's Jon Hill. Last year's event raised $190,000, and donations for this year's race are being collected at Cholke is the defending champion of the race. In 2024, he won a close battle over state police officer Howard Hanson. 'I was going to do everything I had to do on that last lap,' Cholke said in a news release issued by the speedway. 'I saw him (Hanson) out there and I had to run him up high.' The race is made up of police personnel around the state driving Ford Crown Victorias. Norbut drove a 2003 Crown Vic in his first two years of racing, but this year, he has a 2010 model with the No. 13 on it. His daughter, Zoe Monroe, picked the number. 'I know that 13 is unlucky but I asked her to pick it and she picked No. 13 because she is a Taylor Swift fan and she said Taylor Swift's favorite number is 13. So, I'm going with it,' Norbut said. The old car is not gone, It is staying in the family. Norbut's brother, Chicago Ridge officer Hank Dropkowski, will take that car and race at the track in Morris so it's possible the two brothers could be trading some paint. In 2023, Norbut finished 14th out of 18 competitors and was knocked out of the race after 22 laps with engine woes. In 2024 he was able to complete the race, finishing in 8th place. Norbut said it didn't take much convincing to allow his new bosses in Homewood to let him represent the force in his third race at Grundy. So the 2010 No. 13 car will be making its racing debut. 'Crown Vic racing is huge around the country because it's supposed to be this affordable car,' he said. 'But it's still expensive. But it's still good as opposed to other expensive cars out there.' He said he doesn't mind the expense of maintaining a car that he competes with just once a year. Norbut is a proponent of Special Olympics Illinois, which offers competition in a plethora of sports for athletes of various abilities. 'I was involved with Special Olympics for the Cop on Top, the Torch Run and Polar Plunge,' Norbut said of three of the biggest fundraisers police are involved in for Special Olympics. 'This race is something else to be a part of in giving back to the community. 'With the Special Olympics athletes, I wanted to do something more. You know what? Let's go out and do it. It looked fun.' As it turned out, it was fun indeed. 'It's good camaraderie,' Norbut said. 'The other police come out. The athletes come on the track with us and we get to meet them. It's a great day. 'It was like a no-brainer for me. Get in a car and raise some money.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) Extends Special Olympics Service Ambassador Program
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) is included in our list of the . Photo by sabina fratila on Unsplash On July 18, 2025, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) announced that it is planning to extend its Special Olympics Service Ambassador (SOSA) program with the hiring of 28 ambassadors at all seven U.S. hubs. Under the program, part-time employment with full benefits is offered to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Jerry Rice, NFL legend, joined the announcement and trained alongside existing SOSAs. This expansion comes ahead of the company's strong Q2. During the quarter, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) launched Blue Sky with Jet Blue. Under this new alliance, booking and loyalty programs are integrated. The company operated its largest-ever flight schedule. Furthermore, UAL expanded its international footprint, adding services to eight new destinations, along with plans to expand to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Adelaide. Meanwhile, following the company's earnings release, UBS maintained its 'Buy' rating with $103 price target. The analyst also updated UAL guidance to $9-$11. Operating across the United States, Canada, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and Latin America, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) offers air transportation services. It is included in our list of cheap travel stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of UAL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Most Undervalued Cloud Stocks Under $10 According to Hedge Funds and 11 Best Mineral Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Greg O'Shea wins fifth series of Love Island
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (28th July - 3rd August) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 28th July to 3rd August. This Week In Irish News The Transocean Airways DC8 Jet became the first chartered transatlantic flight to fly directly to Cork Airport from New York City. The landing came following a recent extension of a thousand feet to the Cork Airport runway. When the plane landed, The St. Finbar's Pipe Band, along with crowds of people, were there to greet them. The then Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Chrissie Aherne, and Minister of State for Tourism and Transport, Denis Lyons, were also present to welcome its passengers to Cork. 2014: When the Jedi came to the great Skellig Skellig Michael became a part of the Star Wars universe when filming of The Force Awakens took place there. Local boatmen ferried crew members from Portmagee to the World Heritage Site for filming while the cast was brought by helicopter from a helipad on Valentia Island. The island, located off the coast of County Kerry, featured in two Star Wars movies: The Force Awakens in 2015 and again in the following instalment, The Last Jedi, released in 2017. This Week In Irish Sports 2015: Team Ireland finish on a high in Special Olympics Team Ireland finished the Special Olympics in Los Angeles with an incredible 86 medals. On the final day of the competition alone, Irish athletes won six gold, five silver, and five bronze medals. The final medal tally of 26 gold, 29 silver, 31 bronze, 31 personal bests and 43 placement ribbons. The team obtained medals in disciplines such as basketball, soccer, athletics, badminton, equestrian, gymnastics and bowling, 2024: Paris Olympics bring medals for Ireland in multiple disciplines Ireland had an Olympics to remember, with gold medals and more obtained in multiple disciplines. Overall, the final tally was four golds, three bronzes, and 26 top-10 finishes. In swimming, Daniel Wiffen took gold in the men's 800m freestyle and bronze in the men's 1500m freestyle, while Mona McSharry took the bronze in the women's 100m breaststroke. In rowing, Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan took gold in the men's lightweight double sculls, while Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle took bronze in the men's double sculls. Kellie Harrington took gold in the women's lightweight boxing, and Rhys McClenaghan took gold in the men's pommel horse. This Week In Irish Entertainment 2001: Brian Dowling crowned winner of Big Brother 2 The reality TV game show Big Brother saw Brian Dowling crowned the winner of its second series. Over four and a quarter million people cast telephone votes, making Dowling, from Rathangan in Co. Kildare, the winner. The series was the most-watched Big Brother ever, with the final watched by 13.7 million viewers, making it Channel 4's second most-watched show. 2019: Greg O'Shea wins fifth series of Love Island Limerick rugby player Greg O'Shea and his partner Amber Gill, who is from Newcastle in the UK, were announced as the winners of Love Island 2019. They were competing against Longford model Maura Higgins and her partner Curtis Pritchard, Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague, and Ovie Soko and India Reynolds. O'Shea entered the villa on day 43 before coupling up with Gill on day 46 This Week In Irish Culture 1965: The first Grand Canal Festival in Co Kildare The first Grand Canal Festival opened in Robertstown, Co. Kildare in 1965. Created as part of an effort to maintain the canals for boating, the festival evolved into an annual event featuring people dressed in 18th-century costumes, entertainment, archaeological and art exhibitions, and more. The festival centre was the Grand Canal Hotel, which operated as a museum showcasing weapons, Georgian maps and rare books relating to the canal. Funds raised from the festival were used to cover additional repairs to the building. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1976: 'The Boys Are Back in Town' by Thin Lizzy Considered to be the band's best song, the song was the first single from their album Jailbreak. 2003: 'Crazy in Love' by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z The lead single in Beyoncé's debut solo album Dangerously in Love, her song has been ranked in several best-of lists. 2022: 'Running Up That Hill' by Kate Bush The 1985 hit gained a new lease of life after featuring in the fourth season of Stranger Things, reaching number one in eight countries. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Eamon Dunphy (80) Media personality, journalist, broadcaster, author, and sports pundit Frances Fitzgerald (75) Former Fine Gael politician who was Tánaiste from 2016 to 2017 Micheál Martin (65) Taoiseach of Ireland and leader of Fianna Fáil Other Irish Trivia From This Week 1994: Having tea with Daniel O'Donnell Thousands of fans turned out in County Donegal, travelling as far as Australia, to chat and have tea with Daniel O'Donnell. The tea party hosted by the singer in his mother's home in Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, is a highlight of the Mary from Dungloe Festival. Several thousand fans queued up outside his mother's house to have a cup of tea and a chat with the man himself. The tradition began four years previously when he invited some fans to call around. The tradition would continue until 2000 when large numbers made it unfeasible. Looking Ahead Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Seventy-two Special Olympics UAE athletes participate in Topgolf Tournament for People of Determination
26 July 2025 22:15 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Seventy-two Special Olympics UAE athletes represented the nation in the first-ever Special Olympics Topgolf Invitational Tournament for People of Determination in the region, a one-day virtual competition, held on July 26 at Topgolf venues in each participating country. Special Olympics athletes from the US and UK also event marks a significant milestone for inclusive sports in the UAE, especially for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By leveraging innovative technology and purposefully designed golf environments, the tournament aimed to expand participation and create more accessible sporting competition followed an eight-week national training programme that began in May, made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Special Olympics UAE and Topgolf Dubai. Athletes from across the country participated in structured training and national qualifiers, with 72 individuals ultimately selected to represent the UAE in this international were chosen based on time-based performance metrics, age eligibility, and consistent attendance; each athlete was required to complete at least 80% of the training to the nature of the sport and logistical challenges associated with large in-person gatherings, the tournament utilised Topgolf's advanced technology to facilitate parallel play across multiple levels. This enabled more than 36 athletes to compete simultaneously per floor, allowing for broader inclusion and a more dynamic tournament athletes were registered electronically and evaluated using competition-specific benchmarks. For the majority, this marked their first experience participating in a Topgolf competition, making the UAE's strong representation especially Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, stated: 'This tournament represents a new chapter in international empowerment for our athletes, made possible by the continued support of our wise leadership. The UAE remains committed to promoting the full inclusion of People of Determination, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, through meaningful opportunities in sport and beyond.'He added, 'Our athletes made us proud and carried the UAE flag with pride. The tournament strengthened their confidence and opened the door to further opportunities for growth and sports excellence.'Mike Walton, General Manager of Topgolf Dubai, commented: 'We are proud to have hosted this first-of-its-kind virtual event in partnership with Special Olympics International. The dedication and progress shown by the athletes over the past eight weeks were truly inspiring. We believe this initiative reinforces the inclusive potential of golf and our shared commitment to making the sport accessible to all.' The tournament was organised in coordination with a global working group comprising Special Olympics International, Special Olympics Texas, and Topgolf. Together, they developed a comprehensive virtual competition framework and technical standards to ensure fair and equitable play. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
