As buses, vans, and cars arrived for the Beaver County Special Olympics in April 2026, Micaiah Armstrong ‘28 saw the event she had spent months planning come to life. That morning, as she helped set up and distribute t-shirts to volunteers, she felt confident and excited. Watching families arrive, however, added a deeper layer of meaning. As parents pulled in to watch their children participate, Micaiah appreciated the opportunity for families to be present and share in the joy of the day.

Two months earlier, Craig Crow, PhD, Professor of Business and Sport Management, and Judy Willson ’88 suggested that Micaiah serve as a student coordinator. Their recommendation made a big impression. While her initial response was, “Okay, I can do that,” she knew it would be challenging as an in-season softball athlete.

Micaiah had participated in the event the previous year as a volunteer through her Sport Law class, an experience that helped prepare her for this expanded role. Through her coursework with Crow, along with an intramural practicum and internship roles since arriving at Geneva, she felt equipped to lead.

At the same time, the experience has deepened her appreciation for her field of study.

“Dr. Crow has been such a great help and I’m so glad I chose sport management,” Micaiah says. “Everything is so interesting and I learn more and more every time I have one of his classes. He’s a great professor and provides his students with so many opportunities, sending internship opportunities to his students whenever he gets them. He has a lot of connections.”

Even so, the logistics were demanding. Jorja Koerner ‘26 was another student coordinator and played a key role in managing details and Julia Hart ‘24 served as a primary contact through her work with Special Olympics. Micaiah described her role as building on the previous year — evaluating feedback and refining plans for students, volunteers, and coordinators to improve the overall experience.

Additional support came from campus events coordinator Lydia Beare ’23, while the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) once again led “Tornado Town,” a series of activities designed to engage athletes throughout the day.

For those unfamiliar with the event, Micaiah described it as a “fun and joyful” experience that gives participants the opportunity to try new skills and discover whether they might enjoy future competition.

Micaiah’s connection to her fellow coordinators runs deeper than the classroom — they are also teammates on Geneva’s softball team. A love for softball brought Micaiah to Geneva, where she has been shaped by the mentorship of Coach Van Zanic ’99 and the camaraderie of the team. That same passion has expanded through the sport management program, where experiences like Special Olympics are helping her pursue her goal of becoming a coach.

Reflecting on the day, Micaiah emphasized the strong involvement from across campus.

“There was great engagement,” she says. “People were willing to stay past their shifts, and there was a lot of support especially from professors and the business department.”

That spirit of involvement made the day memorable not only for Micaiah as a coordinator, but for every athlete, family member, and volunteer who stepped onto Reeves Field.