On Wednesday, High Point Village and Texas Tech Athletics partnered together to celebrate the World Down Syndrome Awareness Day.
Villagers had the opportunity to visit the United Supermarkets Arena and meet their favorite Tech athletes from volleyball, tennis and football.
Jaimie Havens, High Point Village program director, said the day is about not only celebrating those with down syndrome, but showing the community who they are as people as well.
“I think it’s important for people to learn to celebrate people’s differences, that is a huge part of why we do what we do,” Havens said. “People’s differences are what make them who they are, especially our friends with down syndrome.”
Havens said the villagers look up to Tech athletes as leaders, so they had been looking forward to meeting them all week.
“They are the happiest most incredible people on the planet,” Havens said. “I learn from them every day and I think the community can learn from them too.”
Junior volleyball player, Emily Hill, said the volleyball team often will go to High Point Village, so for them to be able to come to the USA and see a glimpse of their lives is special.
“They’re just normal people and they want to have fun and play games and sports and get to know everyone just the way the rest of us do,” Hill said.
Hill said the Villagers got to play volleyball, soccer and basketball with the athletes, and tour their locker rooms as well.
“We want to give back to our fans and this is one way we can do that,” Havens said.
