Loyola Marymount University’s Special Games, now in its 48th year, filled the bluff with celebrations and connections to the Los Angeles community on March 15 and 22, 2025.
Renata Simril ’93, former chair of the LMU Board of Regents and current president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation, helped kick off the opening ceremony with a powerful message about the “transformational power of sport, play, and movement, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, and no matter your ability.”
More than 320 volunteers and over 130 athletes filled Alumni Mall as Special Games participants, and their coaches – LMU students, staff, and alumni – joyfully paraded toward Sunken Garden. The LMU community lined Alumni Mall, where the energy of this legacy event reached new levels with support from sponsors and community partners such as the LA84 Foundation, Skechers, the Los Angeles Rams, LMU’s The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy, and Innovation, the Heart of Los Angeles, and lunch provided by Mychal’s Learning Place.
Special Games, a celebration for members of the Los Angeles community with intellectual and physical disabilities, is a student-run organization through the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action (CSA). that brings together the disability community of Los Angeles and LMU for two days of fun, friendship, and personal growth. Participants celebrate non-competitive activities and friendships to foster love and make lifelong memories.
Support and partnerships made the Special Games parade complete by showcasing each of their three mascots: LMU’s Iggy, Rampage from the Los Angeles Rams, and Sam the Eagle from the LA84 Foundation. “It is an honor to be here and to sponsor this extraordinary event,” said Simril. “As a proud alumna of this university, I know in every walk of my life, I lead with service, and being in service of our brothers and sisters is what today is all about. Bringing the love and the joy of togetherness of belonging and engagement is what today is all about.”
Enriched with a history since 1977, so many participants have been coming to participate in Special Games since the beginning. “Special Games return each year because of the athletes,” said Jenny Fukunaga, associate director of community and academic engagement in CSA. “We have athletes who have been attending for decades, and it is really special for us to come together and have a day to celebrate with them. This program is made possible by a committee of 20 student leaders who have been working since September to make two weekends of the event possible. They have been committed to disability justice practices and bringing adaptive play to Sunken Garden.”
One of two co-directors, Haley Grant ’25, a psychology and studio arts major, shared how Special Games is so close to her heart. “Seeing all the athletes is my favorite part of the event,” said Grant. “Everyone is smiling and laughing, coming together and new friendships are always being made during the two weekends we’re out here. This year has been extra special because we increased our athletes.” Josiah Dallmer ’25, a biology major, wanted to get involved in Special Games because of his older sister with disabilities, and when he came to LMU, he knew it was something he could get involved with. “I’m the co-director of logistics and in that role I oversee the fundraising, event, and equipment teams,” said Dallmer. “It is a great program, and I’ve been involved for the past three years. I was on the first team to bring the program back after COVID. I’ve progressed each year, and 2025 marks the largest turnout the program has had since COVID-19.”
This year, Jessica Luevano ’25, a psychology major, co-sponsored the fundraising committee and brought her mother, Jacci Luevano ’92, an LMU alumna, to volunteer at the games, as she had done as a student at LMU. During the opening celebration, Jacci Luevano spoke to the event organizers and recognized a Special Games participant, William Henderson Jr., who was a participant from when she was a Special Games coach as a student at LMU.
“William was one of the athletes way back when, so it’s a full circle moment to see him here today,” she said. “LMU Special Games set a career path for me; I’m in education, and working with students with disabilities started here at LMU. That was my career after graduation, and it’s still my career today. I just love the inclusion aspect that our adults with disabilities have a place to come and interact with our general population and skills. It’s just pure joy to see faces; this is what our world needs to be like.
“As a mom, this warms my heart,” Jacci Luevano added. “I have a senior, and we’re sharing this full-circle moment today. This program is a huge example of the LMU community and embodies the LMU philosophy, bringing our community here and bringing everything about the Los Angeles community. And athletes like William are an example of why this is so special.” For Jessica, participating in her third and last Special Games and being involved on the committee, “It’s such a bittersweet moment right now. It’s been successful, and I love seeing everyone out here having fun. I can’t wait to come back as a coach and volunteer to come back and see all the athletes again. This program is a space filled with joy and friendship and embodies the LMU community.”
This year’s theme, “Into the Jungle,” was selected by student leaders. The games included activities like bracelet making, a dance party, a ring toss, snap string table hockey, basketball, rubber duck fishing, throw and catch, shuffleboard, a rainbow parachute, badminton, stickers, temporary tattoos, tee ball, rock painting, goalball, Connect4, Jenga, mini golf, a sensory table, bingo, hula hoops, field games, tabletop bowling, arts and crafts, kinetic sand and a self-love wall. A special thanks goes to all the departments, registered student organizations, service organizations, sororities, and fraternities, including:
- Alpha Delta Gamma
- Brothers of Consciousness
- Beta Theta Pi
- DSP
- Men’s Water Polo
- Espérer Service Organization
- Marians Service Organization
- Track and Cross Country Club
- African Student Association
- Creare Service Organization
- Delta Gamma
- Sursum Corda Service Organization
- Delta Zeta
- Ignatians Service Organization
- Agape Service Organization
- Gryphon Circle Service Organization
- LGBT Student Services
