Pictured with her mother, Vicki, Texas Special Olympics athlete and state and national champion Jamie Novak spoke to Rotary Club on Wednesday about competing, especially in her specialty events bowling and track and field – where she excels in the shot put and speed walking.
Jamie couldn't say how many medals she has won over the years – but it's a lot. So many that when she travels with them they noisily clang together.
She said her participation in Special Olympics have allowed her to travel and meet many people, and visit and tour many places, including the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Pictured with her mother, Vicki, Texas Special Olympics athlete and state and national champion Jamie Novak spoke to Rotary Club about competing, especially in her specialty events bowling and track and field – where she excels in the shot put and speed walking.
Jamie couldn't say how many medals she has won over the years – but it's a lot. So many that when she travels with them they clang together and make a lot of noise.
She said her participation in Special Olympics have allowed her to travel and meet many people, and visit and tour many places, including the Statue of Liberty in New York.
In July 2010, Jamie represented Mineral Wells in the Special Olympics National Games in Lincoln, Neb. She was one of eight members of the Texas delegation's bowling team, and brought home a medal. She competed in the singles, doubles and mixed-team bowling competitions.
Jamie said she began competing in Special Olympics when the family lived in Minnesota, where in the winter bowling was popular because it was indoors and therefore warm. When they moved to Mineral Wells in 2007, they found there was no bowling team so Vicki and her husband, Joe, started one.
Through Special Olympics, Jamie has also gained personal confidence and independence. She now speaks publicly to groups several times a year about Special Olympics, and it helped her recently land her first job and earn her first paycheck.
Thanks, Jamie, for coming to speak with our club today and we wish you the best of luck in your competitions and endeavors going forward.
Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meets every Wednesday at noon at Palo Pinto General Hospital for lunch, socializing, updates on club news and events and a program of interest. Tour the website at mineralwellsrotary.org for more information about Rotary and becoming a member of our growing and fun organization that puts "Service Above Self."