The William Smith College soccer team spent time in San Antonio today working with local Special Olympic athletes. Together the Herons and the Special Olympic athletes completed a service project at Lady Bird Johnson Park and then played some soccer.

The Herons and the Special Olympics athletes planted flowers, raked and mulched some areas around Lady Bird Johnson Park. Each of the four women's and men's teams in the NCAA Division III National Semifinals worked on a project to help upgrade the soccer facilities for local youth and their teams and to make the park a more welcoming and functioning environment for the San Antonio community.

Following the gardening and landscaping, the Herons and the Special Olympians took to the soccer field. After some fun icebreakers, everyone participated in shooting drills and passing relay races.

"This was such a great experience to have." said sophomore Zoe Jackson Gibson. "It was amazing to give back to a community outside of our own. Just seeing the Special Olympic athletes smile made this experience one we'll never forget and the entire time we were having as much fun as they were."

"Working with the Special Olympic athletes is one of our favorite parts of the national semifinals." said junior Riley McCarthy. "This experience puts everything into perspective. Knowing that we put a smile on their faces, in turn, puts a smile on ours."

At the 2011 NCAA Convention, the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Special Olympics announced their partnership. This partnership is designed to improve the lives of Special Olympics athletes through their involvement with Division III student-athletes and to foster a mutual learning experience between Division III student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes.