September's Noteworthy News
9.17.25
By: Special Olympics Connecticut
Global Messenger Day Trip to Mystic
A group of 28 Global Messengers/Athletes and their peers, family members and mentors (58 participants in total) enjoyed our very first Athlete Leadership Day Trip to Mystic on August 17th.
Members of the group arrived at Olde Mistick Village Sunday morning where they did some shopping and had a delicious lunch at Mango's Wood-Fired Pizza Co.
Next up, was a vist to Mystic Aquarium where they watched the amazing Sea Lion show and got a guided tour that took them through some of the Aquarium's featured exhibits and behind-the-scenes to see where injured marine life is cared for and rehabilitated.
The trip reinforced leadership skills including team-building, decision-making and time-management and provided a great opportunity for the Global Messengers to build even stronger bonds and friendships with each other!
Special Olympics Vernon's Home Run Derby
It waa grand slam kind of day at Vernon Special Olympics' 2nd Annual Home Run Derby at Miracle League Field on September 6th. In addition to the team's softball players showing off their skills, the event featured food trucks, prize drawings, music and special guests.
SOCT's Unified Long-Distance Runners
Members of our Special Olympics Connecticut Long-Distance Running Team participated in their first race of the season on Labor Day - the Annual Faxon Law New Haven Road Race in New Haven. They team is led by Head Coach Kevin Grimes. For race results, click here.
Unified BBQ
Global Messengers Aaron Newton and Brandon Knight participated in the Department of Developmental Services' (DDS') first-ever Unified BBQ Competition hosted by Camp Harkness on September 6th. They were paired up with a volunteer to cook up a protein in their "best barbecue fashion." The goal of the event was to foster teambuilding, networking and cooking skills.
Enfield PD Tip-A-Cop
Officers from the Enfield Police Department, restaurant employees, restaurant patrons and our Global Messengers Logan Rosenberg and John Frazier came together at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers on September 4th for a Tip-A-Cop fundraiser to benefit our athletes.
SONA Golf Championship
We were proud to have a Connecticut delegation participating in the 2025 Special Olympics North America (SONA) Golf Championship at the Penn National Golf Club in Fayettville, Pennsylvania, August 25th through the 28th. Members represented our Special Olympics Trumbull and Colchester local programs and were among more than 250 athletes, partners and coaches from the United States and Canada participating in the event.
Competition results:
Remi Pagan - 2nd Place / Silver Medalist in Level 1 Individuals Skills Competition
Andrew McMillan - 2nd Place / Silver Medalist in Level 1, Individuals Skills Competition
Mike Hedrick - 3rd Place / Bronze Medalist in Level 5, Individual Stroke Play 18
Jack and Ryan Miner - 2nd Place / Silver Medalists in Level 3, Unified Team Play
Michael and David Dennin - 3rd Place / Bronze Medalists in Level 3, Unified Team Play