Special Olympics Missouri celebrated an emotional day of achievement Saturday as the organization commemorated its 50 year anniversary and the welcoming of athletes for the Team Missouri Selection Camp.
Susan Stegeman, SOMO president and CEO, said the moment was historic.
"We're a family. Any organization is about the people and our athletes motivate everyone to give their best through that hard work," Stegeman said. "Through meetings and events that we put on, a lot of relationships become like family so you're seeing a lot of those today."
SOMO kicked off the series of events at its new Training for Life Campus with Pete Paciorek as the master of ceremonies. Paciorek was a minor league baseball player and founder of Character Loves Company, Inc.
Paciorek has been involved with SOMO and members of the Special Olympics community for many years. He shared his personal experiences working with athletes, volunteers, coaches and staff.
"There's no other sport organization that embodies what sport competition truly stands for better than SOMO and Special Olympics worldwide," Paciorek said.
After a banquet, SOMO recognized staff, athletes and volunteers that have played a major part in its development over the past 50 years.
Lisa, Mark and Morgan Gudenkauf were recognized as the 2020 Family of the Year, Keith Patterson was named 2020 Coach of the Year, Jason Underwood was the 2020 Volunteer of the Year and Brett Harper was named 2020 Athlete of the Year.
The organization also recognized community supporter Benne Media with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Award for their role in promoting SOMO events like the Polar Plunge every year.
Other organizations, like the Knights of Columbus and police departments around the state, were also given shoutouts for their support.
Mark Musso was recognized as the 2019 Hall of Fame inductee for his decades-long commitment to the organization and David Pudlowski was the 2021 Hall of Fame inductee. Becca Tincknell was celebrated as the 2021 athlete Hall of Fame inductee.
Tincknell, who is now 40, has been competing with SOMO since she was 7 years old. She'll be attending the sports camp this upcoming week to continue her basketball training. She also plays tennis.
Tincknell said it is pretty amazing to be celebrating the organization's 50th anniversary at the Training for Life campus.
The Training for Life campus is a training facility, not a competition facility, and Stegeman said it is nice to finally see that purpose come to fruition this week.
Between the tornado that hit the building less than a year after its completion and the COVID-19 pandemic, Stegeman said the vision was largely put on hold.
The facility provides health screenings for the athletes in addition to state-of-the-art exercise and sports equipment.
The facility has been a model for other Special Olympic organizations across the country, volunteers said. Mark Bussen, a longtime volunteer, said the facility has evolved since it first opened and has helped so many athletes and families.
"I still remember this kid that was back there that didn't have hearing, and they placed it and gave him a hearing aid," Bussen said. "He started dancing and his sister started crying because that was the first time he had heard."
Bussen said the facility will only improve with additional programming in the future.
Without the support of staff, volunteers and donors, the organization wouldn't be where it is today.
Pudlowski, a longtime volunteer and former law enforcement officer, said SOMO impacts much more than just the athletes as it inspires and motivates many volunteers, families, coaches and staff.
John Ottenad was at the banquet in honor of his brother, Jeff Ottenad, who was an athlete for more than 25 years.
"This is our first time to get back to see this facility because it wasn't around when he was an athlete involved in the program," Ottenad said. "He has since passed away, but we still remain involved with the torch run in St. Louis."
Ottenad said he thinks it is incredible to see the many lives the organization has impacted in positive ways.
Athletes will continue training in track and field, basketball, bocce, powerlifting and flag football at the facility through Thursday.
Athletes throw out the first pitch today at the celebrity softball and Renegades baseball games, before being joined by the Missouri University women's basketball team Monday for some activities.
Tuesday features conversations with community partners like Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, as well as the Selection Camp Talent Show. Wednesday has six sessions with chef Terri Nelson and the Selection Camp dance in store.
The camp will conclude with a kickball tournament and closing ceremonies Thursday morning.