ATHLETE LEADERSHIP
Where Athletes Become Leaders
ATHLETE LEADERSHIP
Where Athletes Become Leaders
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AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ATHLETES DON’T JUST PARTICIPATE – THEY LEAD
Through Athlete Leadership, athletes take on meaningful roles as coaches officials, team captains, spokespeople, and even board or committee members. Students become teachers, voices grow stronger, and each leader helps shape the future for the next generation of SOSC athletes. This is not just about leadership. It is about building confidence, creating community, and showing what is possible when athletes take the lead.
People think that just because he or she is handicapped that they will not be able to do certain things. But that is not true. We can do things. Simply put, we can.
— Rudy Almeida
LEADERSHIP ROLES
ATHLETE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The athletes are empowered to voice their opinions and recommend a course of action about various facets of the year-round sports training and athletic competition program. The meetings provide a forum to report to other athletes with the latest happening in their area, address important issues, and gain leadership and training experience.
ATHLETE VOLUNTEERS
The athletes are empowered to take a more active role in the organization by helping out at events in a volunteer role. Whether its checking in volunteers, working in an information booth, taking photos or a variety of other roles, athletes gain experience in a different aspect of the organization.
ATHLETE LEADERSHIP TRAINERS
SOSC is currently looking for additional Athlete Leadership Trainers. Trainers will enable SOSC to enhance our training program and increase our number of Athlete Leaders.
All trainers must complete a “Train the Trainer” session. Three years of Athlete Leadership experience is required to be an Athlete Trainer.
For current SOSC athlete leaders who want to become a trainer, please contact Dustin Plunkett at dplunkett@sosc.org.
ATHLETE LEADERSHIP MENTORS
Mentors work alongside an athlete on their Athlete Leadership journey. A mentor attends all trainings with their athlete partner, assists in writing their mission statement and developing the next steps of their chosen path. A mentor assists in developing their athlete partners confidence as they take on new leadership challenges beyond the field of play.
For current SOSC athlete leaders who want to become a mentor please contact Dustin Plunkett at dplunkett@sosc.org.
GLOBAL MESSENGERS
Global Messengers are Special Olympics athletes, trained in public speaking, who help spread the message and vision of the movement as well as the benefits they have gained by participating in Special Olympics. As leaders and message-bearers of the movement, Global Messengers communicate the powerful declarations of hope, acceptance, and courage of Special Olympics athletes around the world.
More About Our Global Messengers
Meet the Global Messengers
Meet inspiring athlete leaders from across our regions and explore the full roster of Global Messenger to learn more about their stories and impact.
Request a Global Messenger
Global Messengers are available to attend and speak at special events to deliver their inspirational messages.
To request a Global Messenger for your event, please contact:
Dustin Plunkett
dplunkett@sosc.org
562.502.1159
UPCOMING EVENTS
There are currently no upcoming Athlete Leadership events on the calendar. Please check in again soon for updates.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
RICHARD L. VAN KIRK
Outstanding Outreach Achievement Award
2023 - ALEX MARTIN
Special Olympics Southern California athlete Alex Martin has been active in Special Olympics for more than 11 years. He participates in Bocce, Volleyball, Floor Ball and Golf.
Since 2014, Alex has provided athlete leadership as a Global Messenger speaking regularly about Special Olympics to numerous corporate and philanthropic groups such Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, Knights of Columbus, Pimco, Taco Bell, Genesis Bank and Sheppard Mullin. Alex
has also enjoyed being the Opening Ceremonies speaker at various spring and fall festival events over the years, and has served as an instructor in the Young Athletes Program as well.
In 2023, Alex was also recognized as the top fundraiser as the honorary co-pilot for Sheppard Mullin’s “Sheppard Pullin” Special Olympics Plane Pull team in the Long Beach area.
2019 - JARED KOZAK
A large part of Jared’s contribution to Special Olympics is due to his involvement and leadership in the Global Messengers program, which he joined in 2017 to spread awareness of Special Olympics’ mission.
“Almost every time that there has been a need for a Global Messenger, Jared has answered the bell, even when we have received last-minute requests. His story, like all of our athletes, is amazing and Jared always does a wonderful job“, said Brandon Adachi, community engagement director in Special Olympics’ Los Angeles/San Gabriel Valley office.
Jared is always sharing Special Olympics’ mission, along with the impact inclusive sports has had on his life and the lives of many others. He participates in golf, bowling, and in the past basketball with the Southeast Los Angeles program.
2018 - MICHAEL LEON
Michael Leon, a Special Olympics Tri-Valley athlete and Global Messenger, was presented with the Richard L. Van Kirk Outstanding Outreach Achievement Award in September 2018 for his work in advancing the Special Olympics movement. Michael, a Global Messenger since 2015, speaks to a number community groups, churches and schools about living with autism and type-1 diabetes. The 20-year-old’s duties this past year included serving as the Master of Ceremonies at Tri-Valley’s Regional Spring Games and a speech at Haddon Elementary School in Pacoima for Respect Week.
This past year, he competed in basketball and soccer, as well as Team Wellness – a health and wellness program designed to provide athletes a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Kim Villa, a program specialist for Special Olympics Tri-Valley, said his involvement as an athlete “has given him the confidence to do things he never imagined possible.”
“Michael is extremely aware of the responsibility that goes with being a Global Messenger,” she said. “When speaking to groups, he never fails to mention that he represents many other individuals with intellectual disabilities who just want to be respected and treated like others on and off the playing field.”
Away from Special Olympics Southern California events, he does data entry at Vaughn Learning Center and works in the preschool classroom. He also volunteers twice a week in Children’s Ministry at Montrose Church and every summer spends a week as a counselor at Vacation Bible School.
Presented annually since 2001, the award is named after Special Olympics Southern California’s first president.
Athlete Leadership means so much to me because I was able to find my voice and was inspired so much that I finally feel more confident and want to continue inspiring others by telling my story.
— Sasha Cruz, Global Messenger
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
PAUL HOFFMAN
Paul Hoffman has competed in Special Olympics for more than 30 years and is passionate about the changes sports have made in his life. Not only has athletics made him a healthier person, but it has given him more self-confidence and a sense of pride.
QUESTIONS?
For questions or inquiries related to Athlete Leadership, please contact:
Dustin Plunkett
dplunkett@sosc.org | 562.502.1159
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