Celia “CeCe” Robinson, a junior at Plymouth High School, is a member of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee. The committee is made up of 18 high school athletes from across Indiana who represent more than 160,000 student athletes in the Hoosier state. The committee’s goal is to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Indiana. CeCe is trying to do her part here in Plymouth and she has started inside the Plymouth Community School Corporation.
The staff at all Plymouth Community School Corporation schools have been offered the opportunity to donate a monetary $10 donation in support of CeCe’s fundraising efforts in trade for being given the opportunity to wear jeans to school the entire week of December 3rd, Monday through Friday.
CeCe said, “I have to give the credit for the jeans week idea to Weidner School of Inquiry Social Studies Facilitator Jacob Singleton. He has been a really big help with planning and other efforts and he suggested this great idea. I appreciate everything that he has done. I also appreciate the support teachers Dylan Connor, and Lisa Mercer have given me. All three teachers were willing to brainstorm with me about ideas and ways on how I might be able to spread the word about Special Olympics Indiana.”
As far as PCSC participation goes, Plymouth High School, Lincoln Junior High School, Riverside Intermediate School, Washington Discovery Academy, and Menominee Elementary have all decided to participate in the jeans week.
CeCe said, “I am extremely appreciative for their support, I’ve set a personal fundraising goal to raise $2,000 for Special Olympics Indiana by the end of the year in order to bring home the Champions Together Unified School Banner for Plymouth High School for the very first time.” CeCe says the banner is a symbol of inclusion and unity within a school.
“The IHSAA Student Advisory Committee has a partnership with Special Olympics Indiana, and we are all encouraged to earn our respective high schools a banner.”
Plymouth High School Principal Jim Condon and Athletic Director Roy Benge nominated CeCe for the IHSAA Student Advisory Board position over the summer.
Condon said, “Celia personally contacted me and requested permission to have faculty, certified and classified, wear jeans to work during the week of December 4-8. The total cost to wear jeans all of those days is $10 per person. I think this is a great cause and I would love to see 100% participation from our PHS staff.”
Special Olympics Indiana is a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, reaching more than 12,000 athletes across Indiana. Special Olympics Indiana is part of the international network of accredited Special Olympics Programs that reaches more than 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities worldwide.
CeCe has been involved with athletics since she was three years old, and said, “I think it is of the utmost importance that everyone gives special education students the same opportunities as everyone else. Being involved in sports has brought me bonding relationships, and taught me important life lessons all while having fun. Being a member of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee is now giving me a platform to be vocal that no matter if you have a physical disability or not, through sports all students have the opportunity to experience what I have through being involved in high school sports.”
One of those ways CeCe plans to open the doors to sports for all students is hosting a Special Olympics Basketball Clinic at Plymouth High School on Wednesday, December 6th from 12:30 to 3:15 p.m. Community members are welcome to attend the clinic as well, however it is during school hours and you must enter through the school’s front doors and have your license.
“I have a small group of PHS student athletes who are available during the hours of the clinic because they are either a teacher’s assistant, have study hall or have been excused from their regular class to help out; they will be considered partner athletes of the clinic. I also have a few girls and boys basketball players that will be running various basketball skills stations,” said CeCe.
CeCe will continue her mission to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Indiana and inclusion for everyone throughout the next couple of months by involving students and staff in several other ways as well.
If you are a community member and you would like to help Robinson reach her fundraising goal please contact her directly via email at crobinson85@plymouth.k12.in.us. Donations can be made during school hours in the front office at Plymouth High School.
CeCe will continue her mission to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Indiana and inclusion for everyone throughout the next couple of months by involving students and staff in other ways as well. She said, “Next week I will start a whole school engagement here at PHS. I will be doing this through sharing more information about what inclusion really means and why the Special Olympics Indiana organization is so important to our state. Staff and students will be asked to sign a large banner that will be in the lunchroom next week. This will signify their support for Special Olympics and inclusion for everyone.”
CeCe plays soccer and is the goalie for the PHS varsity team. She also plays on the varsity basketball team and she throws shotput and discus for the PHS varsity track team. She holds a current GPA above 4.0 and is 6th out of her class made up of 286 students.
Click here to watch the video CeCe made to spread the news to PCSC staff on how they can help.
