Rachel MalieswskiPresidentMajor: Health Science, Public Health and Human Development & Human Services
Minor: Education I am senior here at Merrimack. After, Merrimack I want to continue my education and degree. Combing my passion for health and education in young children allows me to fulfill my practice in many ways as well as providing me with the best of both worlds. I enjoy sharing my passion with those I work with. My mission is to promote, preserve, and enrich intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development and overall wellness in young children. In addition, I aim to protect, advocate and advance the health of young children, families, and communities. I have a strong devotion for the work I do. In addition to Special Olympics: Young Athletes, I am member of Theta Phi Alpha which, I have worked on the board overseeing and enforcing rules and policies among collegians, I am an Assistant for the School of Education & Social Policy, and I am also an Infant, Toddler, and Preschool certified and licensed teacher. I have worked as a teacher at the Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) for 6 plus years. Outside of Merrimack you will mostly find me running, traveling or at the beach! |
Margaret FordVice President 1Major: Human Development and Education
Concentration: Special Education I am currently a Sophomore at Merrimack College from Concord, MA. I have always had a passion to teach children who have disabilities. It is an incredibly rewarding experience to know that I am making a difference in someone's life. I have a goal of making sure each child receives the proper needs to grow as both a student, and individual. No matter what, I will always remain a support for each child. I believe that disabilities do not separate one human being from the next, at the end of the day we are all equal. The Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program has been a highlight in my college career, I enjoy watching each child's radiance and positivity when they enter the room. If I am not at school, you can catch me at the beach, walking my dog, and enjoying all that life has to offer! |
Tessa ScaleseVice President 2Major: Human Development & Human Services
I am a junior from Chelmsford, MA. I hope to become a Child Life Specialist after I graduate from Merrimack College. I have been an avid volunteer with the Special Olympics in my home town for several years. When I got to Merrimack College I wanted to continue being a part of the organization, so I joined the Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program. I volunteer because I enjoy working with special needs children and helping them overcome challenges that they have been working so hard to get through. I also enjoy the personal connection that I have acquired through working with the children and families. Overall, giving back to the community has always been the most important aspect in my life, and I have tried to impact many peoples lives in a positive way. Kelly FenertyTreasureMajor: Human Development & Human Services
Concentration: Elementary Education I am a Sophomore here at Merrimack College. I have always loved working with children because they make the world so much brighter with their optimism. In high school, I volunteered at a local elementary school which, influenced me to work towards becoming a teacher. I volunteer for Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program because it brings me so much joy to see the children light up when they accomplish a new skill. The children inspire me with their determination, happiness, and overall kindness in the way they treat each other. Outside of YAP, I enjoy watching movies with my friends, going to Texas Roadhouse, and participating in workout classes at the gym. Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program is always the highlight of my week. |
Rachel BrownSecretaryMajor: Human Development & Human Services
I am a Junior here at Merrimack College, and I am from Reading, MA. I hope to become a Child Life Specialist, working with children of all different capabilities. Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program helps me to fulfill my passion to do just that. I volunteer because I strive to assure that each child knows that what makes them different, is what makes them unique in their own special way. Regardless of the disability, I aim to express that each and every child has the ability to take on life with a smile one step at a time. Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program is an organization that has created an environment where a child can be just like everyone else. I am proud to say that I am a member of this organization, and I cannot wait to see what more potential it will bring! |
Alison RadzikFundraising ChairMajor: Human Development & Human Services
Minors: Education and Psychology I am a sophomore from Quincy, Massachusetts. After I graduate I want to become a Child Life Specialist and work closely with children and their families to help cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illnesses, and disabilities. I volunteer to make a difference in the lives of the children we work with and also their parents and siblings. I’ve learned a lot, and grown as a person from volunteering for the program in already just one year. Special Olympics: Young Athletes was such an awesome addition to my freshman year, and I’m so excited to continue raising awareness, meeting new athletes, and help the program grow even more over the next three years. I’m also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha here at Merrimack and love to travel, exercise, and play soccer! |
Madison LapierreSocial Media ChairMajor: Human Development
Concentration: Elementary Education I am a sophomore at Merrimack College. Growing up in Amston, Connecticut, I was the child at childcare pretending to be the teacher and would read books to the stuffed animals. In elementary school, I loved to be in front of the class leading my classmates in the morning message! Later in high school, I volunteered in KinderRHAMa, the preschool at my high school. I also worked in the Special Education Department and was a peer helper in the Adaptive Physical Education class. Along with Adaptive P.E, I created my high school’s Unified Cheerleading team and helped the students learn the cheer routines. Merrimack College is helping me get to my final goal as a future educator. I am still indecisive on the career path I want to follow. I want to be an elementary school teacher, but I am also interested in getting certified in special education. I joined Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program because working with the athletes is very rewarding. I love attending the events and seeing all the smiling participants ready to play! I joined the Executive Board because I want to help make the program even better than it already is. |