Join us at the 2025 Beaver Stadium Run!
SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA TO HOST 16TH ANNUAL PATERNO FAMILY BEAVER STADIUM RUN/WALK AT PENN STATE
Join Us for the Scenic 5K or 2-Mile Family Fun Walk Sponsored by Mount Nittany Health
Ready, set, run with Special Olympics Pennsylvania! More than 3,500 runners and walkers are expected to participate in the 16th annual Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run, presented by Sheetz. The run will take place at Penn State’s University Park campus, on Sunday, April 27th at 11 a.m. – keeping the thrilling events moving during Blue-White Weekend.
REGISTER FOR THE RUN/WALK HERE!
Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities will have the chance to participate in a 5K run or the Mount Nittany Health 2-mile Family Fun Walk. The Run will take place throughout Penn State’s campus all the way through the Beaver Stadium tunnel, finishing on the 50-yard line of the Nittany Lions’ home turf.
For the second year in a row, Mount Nittany Health is named the 2-mile Family-Fun Walk sponsor. Walking and running offers an incredibly accessible way for individuals to get and stay healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. Annually, approximately 1,750 individuals with ID participate and compete in SOPA’s long distance running/walking teams and clubs across Pennsylvania.
Run/Walk fees are as follows: registration is free, but a commitment to raise at least $35 is required; a pay rate of $35 upfront; and children under the age of 9 are free. The first, second and third place overall finishers will receive Sheetz gift cards valued at $100 (1st Place), $50 (2nd Place) and 25 (3rd Place) along with their respective medals.
Additionally, all participants will receive an official Beaver Stadium Run T-shirt, bottled water and other refreshments. Participants can also raise funds online for added incentives by creating their own fundraising page to garner support from their friends, family and co-workers. Online registration for the Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run never closes! All participants will be able to register online until the start of the race by visiting www.StadiumRun.org. Members of the public can also sponsor a participant or make a general donation.
Race day registration opens at 7:30 a.m. at Medlar Field (701 Porter Rd, University Park, PA); and the run will begin at approximately 11 a.m. in the vicinity of the Bryce Jordan Center on Curtin Road, move through Penn State’s scenic campus. Access to the field is for participants only. Spectators can enter the stadium through Gate B at 11 a.m. for available 34-yard line seating.
Proceeds from the run will help underwrite the cost of participation for nearly 2,000 athletes at the 2025 SOPA Summer Games held at Penn State University in June. Athletes from all corners of the state will gather in State College to compete in six sports at SOPA’s largest statewide competition. In addition to competition, athletes will also have access to life-changing health screenings during the event.
In addition to the Sheetz and the Paterno families, the 2025 Beaver Stadium Run major event sponsors include: PSECU, Alumni Sponsor; Mt. Nittany Health, Family Fun Walk Sponsor; Starfish Fund; Pam Health; Dan & Debby McGinn; The Lubrano Companies; The Poole Foundation; The Tombros Foundation; iHeartMedia, Dallas & Diane Krapf; Bill Oldsey & Julie Alexander; Dan Hawbaker & Sons; The Meder Family; LAMAR Advertising; Irwin Financial Inc; Happy Valley Adventure Bureau; Richard & Susan Sokolov; Harmelin Media; 6 ABC; Penn State Alumni Association; and Keystone Real Estate & Apartment Store.
Visit www.StadiumRun.org for more information. To learn more about volunteerism and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Pam Velasquez at
Summer Sports Sign-Ups Are Open!
Summer Sports Sign-Ups: April 15 - May 15
We are gearing up for our Summer Sports season and invite all athletes and volunteers to SIGN UP TODAY!
Special Olympics Pennsylvania: THAT SH*T ROCKS!
SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA: THAT SH*T ROCKS!
In case you missed it, celebrities Pat McAfee and Shane Gillis generously donated $50,000 each to Special Olympics Pennsylvania at a live show in Pittsburgh on Wednesday!
During the event, Shane summed up our organization in one eloquent phrase: “Pennsylvania Special Olympics… That Sh*t Rocks!”
And you know what? We do rock. We offer year-round sports training and competition, health screenings and leadership opportunities to people with and without intellectual disabilities that truly make the world a more inclusive place.
So… to show everyone how awesome we are, we’re launching a limited-edition “That SH*T Rocks” t-shirt! Follow the link below to purchase yours today and rock it with pride.
>>> BUY YOUR THAT SH*T ROCKS SHIRT TODAY <<<<
Shirts not your thing, but you’d like to get involved as an athlete or volunteer? Visit www.specialolympicspa.org to learn more about opportunities in your community.
Rock on,
-Special Olympics Pennsylvania
2025 Unified Bocce State Champions: Blackhawk High School
Over 427 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Unified Champion School bocce teams competed this year. Eight teams made it to the Interscholastic PIAA Unified Bocce Championship. One team went home State Champions.
That team is none other than the Blackhawk Cougars.
The competition we witnessed at the GIANT Center was remarkable. The precision, the focus, the sportsmanship, the camaraderie, the excitement, the determination. But with a game-winning roll in the semi-final round, Blackhawk had their sights set on the Championship Title.
TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT, FOLLOW THIS LINK!
Blackhawk's bocce team is more than just a team. They're best friends. A family. They look out for one another, and are focused on being their best, together. Throughout the last few years, they've taken the time to bond and connect on a deeper level to bring this opportunity to the table. And they delivered.
Congratulations to Blackhawk High School on this incredible accomplishment, and soak in your new title as 2025 Interscholastic Unified Bocce State Champions! Meet the team behind the success:
🏆 Will Brown
🏆 Jaheim Prejean
🏆 Jeremiah Prejean
🏆 Lucas Nitsche
🏆 Jack Masterson
🏆 Olivia Gibbons
🏆 Matt Greene
🏆 Max Sprinker
🏆 Sean Korff
🏆 Savannah Greene
2025 World Winter Games: Pennsylvania Athletes Win TEN Medals in Italy!
Special Olympics Pennsylvania is beyond proud to have seven athletes and three coaches as members of Special Olympics USA who competed and coached at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Torino, Italy! To learn more about how these awesome athletes did, visit our World Games webpage!
❄️ Justin Grimley, Snowshoeing: Silver (200m), 4th (100m)
❄️ Kaitie Grove, Alpine Skiing: Bronze (Novice Giant Slalom), Fourth (Novice Super G), DQ (Novice Slalom)
❄️ Tamsin Hircock, Snowboarding: Bronze (Intermediate Super G), 5th (Intermediate Slalom), Bronze (Intermediate Giant Slalom)
❄️ Alysa Jones, Alpine Skiing: Bronze (Intermediate Slalom), Bronze (Intermedia Giant Slalom), 5th (Intermediate Super G)
❄️ Janna Novatski, Alpine Skiing: DQ (Intermediate Super G and Giant Slalom)
❄️ Lisa Robinson, Speed Skating:Gold (500m), Silver (333m), Silver (777m)
❄️ Jesse Rohrer, Alpine Skiing: Gold (Intermediate Super G), 8th (Intermediate Giant Slalom), 8th (Intermediate Slalom)
❄️ Lester Loner
❄️ Lin Huber
❄️ Kristie Reid