NDNU Athletes, Psi Chi, Parca team up for soccer social
Hanna Martin
Issue date: 2/24/10 Section: Sports
Gleason gym was buzzing with activity Friday night, February 19, during the NDNU Psi Chi Chapter's Soccer Social. Apprearing at the event was Parca, a bay area organization that offers various programs for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Established in 1952, Parca has positively influenced countless lives in local communities, proven by the fact that families literally count down the days until the next event.
Psi Chi (a National Honor Society in Psychology) started working with Parca in 2001 when Dr. Gretchen Wehrle and Dr. Nusha Askari developed a lasting relationship between the NDNU community, Parca Director Sue Digre, and the families themselves. The Soccer Social is the longest running annual event with NDNU, going on 10 years next spring. The families and individuals with developmental disabilities show up for a night full of fun; playing soccer, basketball, tag, or just running around aimlessly. NDNU athletes from the soccer program are glad to spend time off the field with these amazing people; sitting down for pizza, drinks, and cake sharing stories and laughs with new friends.
"Their faces just light up with joy, no matter their physical, mental, emotional challenges may be. There is an immediate bonding and camaraderie that occurs via the interaction of the Psi Chi members and NDNU soccer team players and the PARCA families," Dr. Askari replied when asked about the most positive aspect of the Soccer Social.
"The parents' obvious joy and relief at seeing their kids so happy and their immense gratitude, often openly expressed to us, is such a rewarding experience," Dr. Askari said.
The Parca events give people with developmental disabilities a wonderful opportunity for social engagement. The kids from Parca don't go to school together and many live far away from each other. These events give those kids time to play together and learn valuable social skills from one other as well as NDNU student athletes.
Psi Chi (a National Honor Society in Psychology) started working with Parca in 2001 when Dr. Gretchen Wehrle and Dr. Nusha Askari developed a lasting relationship between the NDNU community, Parca Director Sue Digre, and the families themselves. The Soccer Social is the longest running annual event with NDNU, going on 10 years next spring. The families and individuals with developmental disabilities show up for a night full of fun; playing soccer, basketball, tag, or just running around aimlessly. NDNU athletes from the soccer program are glad to spend time off the field with these amazing people; sitting down for pizza, drinks, and cake sharing stories and laughs with new friends.
"Their faces just light up with joy, no matter their physical, mental, emotional challenges may be. There is an immediate bonding and camaraderie that occurs via the interaction of the Psi Chi members and NDNU soccer team players and the PARCA families," Dr. Askari replied when asked about the most positive aspect of the Soccer Social.
"The parents' obvious joy and relief at seeing their kids so happy and their immense gratitude, often openly expressed to us, is such a rewarding experience," Dr. Askari said.
The Parca events give people with developmental disabilities a wonderful opportunity for social engagement. The kids from Parca don't go to school together and many live far away from each other. These events give those kids time to play together and learn valuable social skills from one other as well as NDNU student athletes.
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