LMU’s 45th annual Special Games brought together over 150 athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities supported by 252 staff, student, and alumni volunteers for a Western-themed event over two days in March. The Los Angeles Rams made the Big Day event held on March 16, 2024, extra special by bringing several special guests, including former Rams player Brandyn Harvey, Rams cheerleaders Tara Stewart and Kendra Azurin, and their mascot Rampage, to join in the festivities.
Special Games is an annual tradition led by a student committee and staff from the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action. Since 1977, this beloved program has brought together LMU and the surrounding L.A. community for two days of non-competitive games and activities on Sunken Garden and friendship to persons with intellectual and physical disabilities.
The Rams in the Community joined LMU for the Special Games Big Day to celebrate with these special athletes. The Rams team paraded with Special Games athletes down Alumni Mall toward Sunken Garden for the opening ceremony and the games. Rams cheerleaders Stewart and Kendra Azurin danced with Rampage to music as the crowd formed on Regents Terrace for the opening ceremony. Special Games co-directors Brooke Pegues ’25 and Michael Morrone ’25 led the parade, along with athlete and torch bearer Jamal.
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Kawanna Leggett, Ed.D. shared remarks during the opening ceremony. “This is a special moment for LMU. The community we have formed during Special Games makes us really proud of what we do for you all, our families and you make our communities better,” said Leggett. “So, having you all on campus today really helps us live out our mission, and one of the things I want to highlight is our students who go to LMU.” Leggett went on to thank student leaders who were intentional with all the planning efforts to make the Special Games possible, the L.A. Rams, and the special team in CSA for all their hard work in putting this event together. Leggett concluded her remarks with, “Let the games begin!”
And with that, the athletes and volunteers headed to Sunken Garden, where this Western-themed event turned Sunken Garden into an all-inclusive rodeo. Athletes had opportunities to hula hoop, color pictures, make friendship bracelets, bowl, shoot hoops, play musical chairs or with a parachute, play games like yard Jenga or Connect Four, dance, blow bubbles, kick soccer balls, and so much more. The Rams also joined in on the games by bringing an inflatable football kick and toss for athletes to compete alongside Harvey and Rampage and receive Rams-themed swag like co-branded koozies, co-branded mini footballs, Rams fanny packs, and rally towels.
Former Rams player Harvey was excited and grateful to meet the Special Games and LMU community when he was asked by the Rams organization to attend. “Meeting everyone at LMU has been a wonderful experience, and hearing about the tradition that the games now represent at the school and how they were brought back last year has been amazing,” said Harvey. “There have been a lot of great individuals out at the games, and I’ve been able to see firsthand the collective comradery between everyone here. It is so cool because it brings together that team and that team atmosphere and spirit.”
Harvey also had many memorable moments meeting the athletes and the volunteers. He walked away, saying everyone in the community was here to have fun and come together for that one collective goal. “People, whether it’s the volunteers or the athletes, you could be doing anything on a Saturday, but people are all here today gathered at LMU to participate in this special event, and everyone’s presence here has greatly impacted me. There’s a difference between hearing and seeing people; when you can be out here and see people, you can make a better and bigger impact on the community.”
Rams cheerleader Azurin felt inspired after watching athletes and their coaches participate in Special Games. “I feel like watching these athletes participate in these games with their coaches has been really inspiring. They are showing us that anyone can do anything, and there’s no boundaries on what they can do,” said Azurin. “It’s been so incredible being able to meet all of the athletes and the coaches at Special Games and bringing a little bit of joy into their day. It has been super awesome. Representing the Rams organization like this is always very special to us.”
Like Azurin, Rams cheerleader Tara Stewart shared why she loves these types of community events. “I get to meet a lot of different people with different backgrounds, and they get to meet us in return,” said Stewart. “It’s not every day people get to me, a Rams cheerleader or a former Rams player like Brandyn. It’s nice to be out with people in the community like that, so we’re able to make this feel like a welcoming environment and truly show people we’re here for more than just football; we’re part of the community, and we’re here to help make people happy.”
Other special guests included the LAX Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) program, dogs and handlers, also joined in on the special festivities by providing support and cheering on athletes throughout the day, walking during the parade and hanging out on Sunken Garden while athletes competed in the games. The LAX PUPs are therapy dogs and their handlers who typically roam the departure terminals of LAX airport and can be found monthly during LMU’s Wellness Wednesday program to support students. Barnyard Buddies also allowed athletes and their coaches to walk into a small petting zoo on Sunken Garden with pigs, goats, and chickens roaming a pen.
For one family, it was their son’s first time as an athlete in Special Games and their first time visiting LMU’s campus, and after their experience, they hope to make the games a family tradition to come back every year. “We did not know there was something like this in our community, and it’s great for all of us as a family to be involved in events like this. Our son was initially unsure because this was his first year competing in the games, but our son was very excited, and this was an opportunity for us to explore new opportunities to support our son.”
Special Games student co-directors Pegues ’25 and Morrone ’25 led the student committee that brought the entire event together. Pegues, a film, television, and media studies major wanted to be a co-director because she loved volunteering as a coach. “I wanted to participate in an even bigger way. I loved everyone in CSA who is a part of Special Games and wanted to join the team to help the event just as great as last year,” said Pegues. “The most memorable moment from Special Games this year was the dance break! So many people participated in the line dances, and it was so much fun.”
Morrone, an entrepreneurship major with a double minor in computer science and statistics/data analytics, first heard about Special Games last year when his friend talked him into being a coach during tabling at Wellness Wednesday. “I got involved with the Special Olympics in high school, and working with people with mental and physical disabilities has been a primary focus of mine since then,” said Morrone. “Last year’s Special Games had a lasting impact on me, and I knew I wanted to have a more hands-on role in this year’s event.” Leading Special Games gave Morrone a sense of purpose and fulfillment that he had not felt in a long time. “Having the opportunity to advocate so strongly for inclusion and this event, I got to see firsthand the profound impact we students can have on people,” said Morrone. “This year’s Special Games solidified my love for service and has motivated me to become more involved with other social justice issues I’m unfamiliar with. I’ve been on the fence regarding my career recently, but working as the director for logistics and operations gave me a better understanding of the type of job and career I want to dive into