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New Haven, Conn. - On Friday, March 29, the Albertus Magnus College Athletic Department hosted its first Unified Basketball Tournament at "The Nest" inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center. Four teams – Albertus Magnus College, Southern Connecticut State University, Milford and Branford – competed in the tournament along with members of the softball, baseball, women's volleyball, and women's soccer teams.
Members of the Albertus Magnus men's and women's basketball team also took part in the event as referees for the games.
In September of 2018, Albertus Magnus entered into a partnership with the Amity Regional School District that included a Unified Sports program. In an effort to continue that collaboration at the college level, their teacher, Tricia Fitzgerald, reached out to Albertus Magnus and a team was formed in February. The Albertus Magnus squad was coached by Dr. Christine Atkins and graduate student Adam Olszyk. In addition to coaching, Adam acted as the Tournament Director where he helped plan and manage the basketball tournament.
ABOUT UNIFIED SPORTS
Unified Sports® is a registered program of Special Olympics that combines athletes with and without disabilities on sports teams for training and competition.
The CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program provides a forum for positive social interaction between students with disabilities and non-disabled students. As Unified® teammates train and compete together they foster ties that develop into friendships both on and off the athletic field.
Participation in Unified Sports® leads to new friendships, improved self-esteem and positive changes in attitude, behavior, and performance.
The CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program helps to foster an inclusive school community where the values of tolerance, patience and sensitivity are cornerstones
ABOUT ALBERTUS MAGNUS COLLEGE
Albertus Magnus College, founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, is a Catholic College in the Dominican Tradition. It is recognized as a Top 100 Regional University in the north by US News & World Report Best Colleges guide for 2019. The College has an enrollment of 1,500 students in its traditional undergraduate program, accelerated adult degree programs, and 12 graduate programs, including a new Master of Public Administration and the only Master of Arts in Art therapy and Counseling in Connecticut. In the last few months, the College received two significant federal grants, $300,000 from the Department of Justice and a $2 million Title III grant from the Department of Education.