Seattle – For the past few years, the Huskies men’s and women’s soccer teams have volunteered their free time at the Experimental Education Unit (EEU) at the University of Washington’s Herring Center, creating an equally beneficial partnership for both parties.
The Herring Center for Inclusive Education provides early childhood education for children with and without disabilities, conducts cutting-edge research to advance inclusive learning, and uses proven practices to develop the potential of all children. We train education professionals in
“At EEU, we truly value our partnership with the women's and men's soccer players at the University of Wisconsin,” said Lana Sumner, vice president of the Herring Center. “Once again this school year, these amazing athletes have volunteered their time and energy to play with our students during recess. This partnership strengthens our community and increases our ability to build more sports.''Thank you to the athletes, coaches and administrators who made this possible. ”
During their visit to the Herring Center, the male and female Huskies spend time playing with EEU students during recess and playing fun games on the playground with the troop's exciting children.
“It is truly an honor to be a part of this great partnership with EEU,” said UW women’s head coach. nicole van dyke Said. “Our athletes are passionate about serving their communities and being able to share the joy of soccer and play with our students at recess is a highlight for all of us. We are very grateful to the EEU for allowing us to have the opportunity to spend time with the children. ”
Getting out as much as they put in This partnership goes back many years, and both Huskies men and women plan to be pillars of their respective programs.
“We can't thank EEU enough for opening their doors to our student-athletes and giving them the camaraderie, mentorship and joy of coaching,” said Husky men's head coach Jamie Clark. “The time we spend with the children in our program is incredibly rewarding, and the impact they have as positive role models within their communities is immeasurable. We hope it will be cherished by both our students and our players for years to come. ”
For Washington's rising juniors Kolo Suriahu, the opportunity to connect with EEU children is very personal. Sliav's younger brother, Tahni Sliav, has Down syndrome and shared a special moment with his sister earlier this season when his sister joined him in the lineup before the Huskies' Down Syndrome Inclusion Game vs. Colorado.
“Volunteering at the Herring Center is very rewarding,” Sliav said. “Personally, I love seeing kids smiling and laughing because that's what I wanted for my brother too. The schools he went to were always very inclusive. It's great to see other schools creating an environment for children where they feel seen and wanted just like any other child. ”
The partnership with EEU is just one of several initiatives undertaken by the University of Vienna Soccer Program to give back to the University of Vienna and Seattle communities that work hard throughout the year to make the season possible .
“This partnership not only strengthens our ties with the community, but also strengthens our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all,” Van Dijk said. “We would like to sincerely thank the athletes for their hard work and enthusiasm to make this collaboration a rewarding experience.”
For more information about the University of California women's soccer team, follow @UW_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram. Meanwhile, you can follow the Huskies men's team at @UW_MSoccer.
