1/2/2009 11:00:00 AMMax Hayes Athletes

Two Max Hayes Athletes Selected as Special Olympics Global Youth Ambassadors

Cleveland, Ohio- The Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Office of Interscholastic Athletics and Student Activities, in conjunction with the Greater Cleveland Area Special Olympics, are proud to announce that Lukas Erikson, a 10th grader at Max Hayes and partner in the Unified Sports program, and Arlenn Hicks, a 9th grader at Max Hayes, have been chosen as representatives of the United States at the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit. The Summit will be held in concurrence with the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Game February 7-13 in Boise, Idaho.

The student athletes were selected by Special Olympics to represent the State of Ohio at the Summit and will be accompanied to the World games by their coach and teacher Ms. Zenaida Pena. Ms Pena is an Instructional Assistant at Max Hayes who has volunteered with Special Olympics for over five years.

Arlenn is involved in Special Olympics bowling, basketball, skiing and track & field. Lukas has been a student ambassador with People to People, and has traveled to China with the group. He is involved with the Max Hayes Special Olympics Unified Ski program, pairing Special Olympics Athletes with non-Special Olympics athletes.

The 2009 Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit is a gathering of more than 130 young people from around the world, with and without intellectual disabilities, who are committed to making a difference in their schools and communities through Special Olympics. Youth participants will range from age 12-20 and represent 18 countries. The summit will include conference sessions, leadership training programs and interactive sports experiences. Participants will also act as journalists, publishing their stories and photos daily on the Special Olympics and 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Web sites and social network sites.

The 2009 Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit will also incorporate a Global Youth Rally on February 9, 2009 at the Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State University campus.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Vincent Marquard, Deputy Commissioner, CMSD Athletics and Student Activities
216-574-8699 or vincent.marquard@cmsdnet.net
Bill Hatfield, Assistant Field Director, Special Olympics Greater Cleveland
440-582-8433 or cpsso@aol.com
Ron Vederman, Special Olympics World Winter Games - rvederman@specialolympics.org