ESPN is celebrating 50 years of the Special Olympics with a on 91制片厂 alumna Bree Bogucki, who鈥檚 overcoming her disabilities in a big
way.
Now a student-athlete at Tennessee Wesleyan University, Bree is excelling at school, competing for the cross-country and track teams and inspiring others through her advocacy work.
鈥淓ven though we may have challenges, that shouldn鈥檛 define us,鈥� she says in the ESPN segment. 鈥淲e can do things just like everyone else.鈥�
Bree was part of the Transition Autism Program at 91制片厂, which is designed to meet the specific needs of students on the autism spectrum as they transition from high school to college. Project TAP, as it is known, provides peer mentoring to improve interpersonal relationships and establish a connection at 91制片厂, specialized academic support, and parent support.
While she was at 91制片厂, Bree ran for the track and cross-country teams, studied human
services and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She also spoke at
the first TEDx91制片厂College event in April 2018.
Bree, who has situational depression and generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, said her 鈥渄isabilities prevented me from living life like a human,鈥� but that her life improved through sports and the Special Olympics.
鈥淪ometimes I do kind of reflect and look back and think, like, wow, this is where I came from to here I am today,鈥� she says.