PENNSYLVANIA TEAM USA MEMBERS

Team SO Region – NA

Marissa Carr

Hometown: Coatesville, PA

Sport – Speed Ice Skating Years in Special Olympics: 4

Attended: No previous

Other Sports: Athletics Rollerskating

Are you attending School? Yes, in the Coatesville Area School District

Are you employed?: No

Accomplishments: Medaling in most events, making new friends, and being an Honor Roll student.

How has Special Olympics changed your life (parents’ lives)? It has given her confidence, teamwork, and friends for life. She has learned that everyone is special.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you (your parents)? It is very special to see her achievements. We are so honored to have her chosen for this.

Other interests or hobbies:

Team United States SO Region – NA

Kevin M. Conley

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Field of Service – Medical Years in Special Olympics: 15

Attended: Yes, World Games 2011 in Athens,

Other Sports:

Are you employed?: Yes, by the University of Pittsburgh as Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Accomplishments: Being a part of Team USA for the World Summer Games in Athens was an experience of a lifetime.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Being a part of Special Olympics has helped me to see there are no barriers to reaching one’s goals, only challenges that make us all stronger.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? It means I get to go (again!) to a world class competition with some of the best athletes in the USA. It’s very exciting.

Other interests or hobbies: I enjoy running, reading, coaching my son’s Little League baseball team, and watching my daughter put on dance recitals in the family room.

Team United States SO Region – NA

Erin K. Erdman

Hometown: Williamsport, PA

Sport – Cross‐Country Skiing Years in Special Olympics: 25

Attended: World Games 2001, Anchorage, Alaska World Games 2003, Dublin, Ireland

Other Sports: Athletics Tennis Alpine Skiing Long Distance Running

Are you attending School? No

Are you employed?: Yes, by Williamsport Olive Garden as a salad‐maker

Accomplishments: I have over 130 gold, silver, and bronze medals. I went to Anchorage, Alaska in 2001 for cross‐country skiing. I went to Dublin, Ireland in 2003 for track & field and in 2005, I was inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame. I have been a Global Messenger since 1999.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Special Olympics has given me the self‐ esteem to live on my own and be independent for over 10 years. I have had a dog for 7 years. I can do this because I have worked at the Olive Garden for 11 years, as Special Olympics has taught me to work hard to reach my goals. My employer tells me I am the best employee he has. I live by the Special Olympics motto, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” I don’t always choose the right thing to do, but I always choose to do it.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? It means meeting new friends, seeing old friends, and getting to see lots of awesome places and new countries.

Other interests or hobbies: Spending time and going on walks with my dog Sahara, spending time with my mom and going out to lunch and the movies. I like hanging out with my Special Olympics friends and doing long walks with my doggie, Sahara. I like doing the SIMS on my computer and doing word search puzzles. I like listening to music and reading books, and doing Special Olympics with my friends and our coaches and volunteers – everyone who makes it special. I am learning to eat foods that are healthy and nutritious.

Team United States SO Region – NA

Jeremy C. Fair

Hometown: Lemoyne, PA

Sport – SPEEDSKATING Years in Special Olympics: 11

No previous World Games.

Other Sports: Football (soccer) LDW/LDR

Are you attending School? No

Employed by: Karns Foods as a Stocker

Accomplishments: I have won several medals and awards in several sports.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Special Olympics has helped me meet many new friends and has helped me reach new goals every year.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? I attended two World Games and watched my sister compete. I always dreamed that someday I would compete in World Games. My dream has come true.

Other interests or hobbies: I am a Philadelphia sports fan. I love to watch NASCAR racing. I love to play softball. I love to play soccer. Also, I used to be a volunteer firefighter.

Team United States SO Region – NA

Greg A. Hammaker

Hometown: Dauphin, PA

Sport – Speedskating Years in Special Olympics: 12

Attended: No previous World Games

Other Sports: Concentrates on Speedskating

Are you employed?: Yes, by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a messenger and driver.

Accomplishments: I was the Unified Partner of the Year for Area M in 2007 and 2011, and for the State in 2008.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? It has made me a better person all around and has taught me to always be myself.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? To me, it’s a great honor to be involved with all the great athletes and to represent my great country.

Other interests or hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family. I love music and love to play guitar and bass. I also enjoy hockey.

Team United States SO Region – NA

John D. Kauffman

Hometown: Roaring Spring, PA

Sport – Figure Skating Years in Special Olympics: 12

Attended: World Games 2005 in Nagano, and World Games 2009 in Boise, Idaho

Other Sports:

Are you employed?: Yes, by the Skating Club of Wilmington, DE and Galactic Ice in Altoona, PA as a Learn to Skate Coordinator and Skating Director.

Accomplishments: Master‐rated coach with the Professional Skaters Association, attending the 2005 and 2009 World Games for Special Olympics, and the 2013 Head Coach for Special Olympics.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? It has provided balance and continually changes my life in positive ways. I’ve seen how anyone can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I found a new sense of enjoyment in my sport thanks to Special Olympics. I have made many new friends, as well.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? It’s an honor to represent my country and work with such great athletes ‐‐ the chance to experience new things with a wonderful group of people, and to be a part of a support team that helps the athletes get the most out of their World Games.

Other interests or hobbies: Marine fish and corals, continuing education, tennis, kayaking, hiking, biking, skiing, keeping fit, and playing the French horn.

Team United States SO Region – NA

Shane T. Kiesner

Hometown: Carnegie, PA

Sport – Cross‐Country Skiing Years in Special Olympics: 13

Attended: World Games 2007 in Shanghai, : World Games 2009 in Boise, Idaho; and World Games 2011 in Athens, Greece

Other Sports:

Are you employed?: Yes, by Special Olympics Pennsylvania as the Senior Sports Director

Accomplishments: Having served as a member of Team USA for the past three World Games. Having been the HOD for two different states delegations to the US National Games.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Prior to working for Special Olympics, I had little interaction with disabilities. Working for Special Olympics has given me a greater understanding of and appreciation for individuals with disabilities and what they are capable of accomplishing when given training and support.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? The opportunity to, once again, experience the pinnacle of Special Olympics competition with great athletes and coaches from across the United States.

Other interests or hobbies: Nature, landscape, and Special Olympics photography, Major League Baseball – Go Bucs! Go Twins! I have been to games in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Cincinnati, and Washington DC this summer. Watching other professional sports.

Team United States SO Region – NA

James Leonard

Hometown: Butler, PA

Sport – Alpine Skiing Years in Special Olympics: 15

Attended: No previous World Games

Other Sports: Aquatics Tennis Bowling Alpine Skiing Equestrian Floor Hockey Football (soccer)

Are you attending School? No

Are you employed?: Yes, by Brighton Hot Dog Shop as a cook and kitchen manager

Accomplishments:

How has Special Olympics changed your life (parents’ lives)? It has given him self‐ confidence and has given him the opportunity to learn new sports, travel, and meet new people. He would not otherwise have.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you (your parents)? It has made him feel proud and honored to represent his county, state, and country.

Other interests or hobbies: Cooking

Team United States SO Region – NA

Lester J. Loner

Hometown: Williamsport, PA

Sport – Cross‐Country Skiing Years in Special Olympics: 27

Attended: No previous World Games

Other Sports: Aquatics Basketball Bowling Golf Floor Hockey LDR/LDW Athletics Bocce Football (soccer) Volleyball Snowshoeing

Are you employed?: Yes, by the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority as an office manager

Accomplishments: Special Olympics: Pennsylvania Coach of the Year, Manager of the Year, Volunteer of the Month, Global Messenger Mentor, State Family Committee, Cross‐Country Skiing Committee. Professional & Community: Pennsylvania College of Technology Community Service Alumni, Paul Jones Rotary Award, Non‐Rotarian Volunteer of the Year, 2007 Special Olympics North American Coach of the Year and 2010 Runners World Community of Heroes Service Award.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Special Olympics has provided me many opportunities to understand that Special Olympics athletes are not really much different than anyone else. They enjoy working at becoming better athletes and will give their all to improve and do their best. They have taught me patience, understanding, and determination. In addition, I have been presented the chance to speak to many others within our community, our state, and around the world about our athletes and program and the importance that it plays in the lives of the athletes. “Try hard, do your best, but have fun” is something that all of us can learn from our athletes.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? I have had the luck of meeting many great volunteers during my involvement in Special Olympics. They have taught me the fact that we must place the athletes at the forefront. Special Olympics places the spotlight on the athletes, which is only right. By attending World Games, I will be able to put that lesson to practice. In addition, I am able to use my many years of training and competition as an athlete to help train and prepare our Special Olympics athletes for this once‐in‐a‐lifetime experience. Finally, I hope to be able to help our athletes learn about new cultures, make new friends, and realize that there are others around the world that face many of the same barriers that they do on a daily basis but with determination they can be overcome.

Other interests or hobbies: Family activities, coaching my son in Little League, working with Challenger Little League, training and competing in running, swimming, cycling events, volunteering with local track and cross‐country running teams. I also love watching history and documentary shows.

Team United States SO Region – NA

McKenzie F. McNamara

Hometown: Dingman’s Ferry, PA

Sport – Alpine Skiing Years in Special Olympics:

Attended: World Games 2001, Anchorage, Alaska World Games 2003, Dublin, Ireland

Other Sports: Athletics Aquatics Snowboarding

Are you attending School? Yes, at Delaware Valley High School

Are you employed?: Yes, by the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA as an aquatics director

Accomplishments:

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Providing opportunities that would otherwise not be available.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you?

Other interests or hobbies:

Team United States SO Region – NA

Debbie L. Phillips

Hometown: West Chester, PA

Sport – Alpine Skiing Years in Special Olympics: 11

Attended: No previous World Games

Other Sports: Rollerskating Softball

Are you employed?: Yes, by the Chester County Intermediate Unit as a Special Ed/Physical Ed teacher

Accomplishments: I played on the USA Indoor Field Hockey team and was the Annie Sullivan recent for our school district.

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Special Olympics has been a rewarding journey. I have met and coached some of the most amazing and dedicated athletes. For many of the athletes, it is about the sport and participating in the event, not about being first.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? I will be representing the USA and coaching dedicated athletes!!

Other interests or hobbies: I enjoy biking, scrap booking, running, walking the beach, and coaching field hockey.

Team United States SO Region – NA

Lisa L. Robinson

Hometown: West Chester, PA

Sport – Alpine Skiing Years in Special Olympics: 17

Attended: One World Games (Japan 2005) and one National Games (Ames, Iowa 2010)

Other Sports: Aquatics Football (soccer)

Are you attending School? No.

Are you employed?: Yes, by Child & Career Development Center as an Instructional Aide.

Accomplishments: I attended World Games 2005 in Japan and went to National Games 2010 in Iowa.

How has Special Olympics changed your life (parents’ lives)? Lisa has always been a shy, quiet girl and Special Olympics has helped her to be more confident in herself and her abilities. This has helped her gain skills in various sports and try new things.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you (your parents)? Lisa is very proud to be chosen and feels it is a great accomplishment. She is honored to be going.

Other interests or hobbies: I like hanging out with friends, using text and Facebook to keep up with people, going to the movies and watching TV. I also like exercise and taking our dog for a walk.

Team United States SO Region – NA

Andrew J. Sambol

Hometown: Somerset, PA

Sport – Cross‐Country Skiing Years in Special Olympics: 14

Attended: No previous World Games

Other Sports: Aquatics Bowling Athletics Football (soccer) Basketball Golf Bocce Snowshoeing

Are you attending School? No

Are you employed?: Yes, by Hidden Valley Resort as a dishwasher

Accomplishments: Graduating from Somerset Area Senior High School in 1998 Three‐time Mixed League High Average Champ (high game 277) Only SOPA athlete to bowl and cash in two PSBA State Bowling Tournaments

How has Special Olympics changed your life? Special Olympics has changed my life in so many ways. It has given me a new lease on life. It has given my leadership skills while making long‐lasting friendships, helping others, and building strong character in the process.

What do Special Olympics and attending World Games mean to you? Never giving up and doing my best in everything I do in Special Olympics. Attending World Games for the first time means that a dream of mine has come true. I made it on Team USA because of my hard work and sheer determination.

Other interests or hobbies: Bowling in USBC‐sanctioned leagues Playing video games Listening to rap music Watching WWE Raw and Smackdown Having a cat named Silver Eating pizza