Staff, students, and faculty from the Ross Medical Education Center Kokomo, Indiana campus works hard to support their community and all of the individuals in it. Each month, they strive to find new organizations and groups to support. The Special Olympics organization transforms lives across the world each and every day through the joy of sport. According to their website, they are “the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities: with more than 4.9 million athletes in 172 countries — and over a million volunteers.”
This year, the Ross team at the Kokomo campus decided to to be a part of the million of volunteers that make this opportunity possible. Kokomo Campus Director Shannon Spencer and her husband Josh, a special education teacher, joined Assistant Campus Director of Education Edie Hensel and Lead Instructor for the Dental Assistant program Cindie Hudson decided to take the Polar Plunge. This event was created to raise funds to benefit Special Olympics Indiana. The campus raised over $700 between each staff member. They reached out to their family and friends to help reach that goal.
In addition to staff and faculty members, the campus also had students participate. Taylor Long, a student in the Medical Assistant program, and Bailey McCorkle, a student in the Dental Assistant program took the plunge as well. Once at the Polar Plunge event location, the Ross Kokomo team was excited to be reunited with several Ross students, graduates, and future Ross students as well there to jump in and cheer the Ross Racers on!
“The water was freezing as we all expected,” said Campus Director Shannon Spencer. “But the thoughts of running through the water quickly passed as we lined up, because it was now time to plunge in! We raced to the dive team members gave them a quick high five and then back on to dry land! It was emotional to be a part of such an amazing event! Yes, we were freezing and uncomfortable for a few moments but there are many others that are disabled for a lifetime. It was so great to see our team come together for the greater good of others! Yes, we’ve been asked, will you do it again? The answer everyone has said is, without a doubt, YES!”