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1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign's
3 (UIUC) dedication to adapted sports programs for varsity
4 students with physical disabilities is unparalleled; and
5 WHEREAS, UIUC sponsored one of the first collegiate
6 wheelchair basketball teams in the country and was one of the
7 charter members of the National Wheelchair Basketball
8 Association in 1949; and
9 WHEREAS, The proposed collaboration of the State of
10 Illinois, UIUC, and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics
11 provides the future sport sponsorship support and recognition
12 for wheelchair athletics at UIUC; and
13 WHEREAS, The University has become the hub of technology,
14 research and advancement in wheelchair sports and has been at
15 the forefront of improvements and modifications of
16 wheelchairs for enhanced player participation; and
17 WHEREAS, In recent years, the University's continued
18 dedication to adapted varsity sports is evident through their
19 nationally acclaimed basketball and track and field
20 wheelchair teams, as well as their support for individuals
21 participating in other sports programs; and
22 WHEREAS, UIUC wheelchair athletics partnered with the
23 Illinois High School Association piloted the first State-wide
24 model in the nation for interscholastic wheelchair basketball
25 competition, providing athletic opportunities to high school
26 students with disabilities across all 102 counties within
27 Illinois; and
28 WHEREAS, The Fighting Illini Men's Wheelchair Basketball
29 team has won ten National Intercollegiate Championship
30 titles, played in every National Wheelchair Basketball
31 Association post-season tournament, as well as winning three
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1 open titles prior to intercollegiate play; the Fighting
2 Illini Women's Wheelchair Basketball team has won nine
3 National Women's Basketball Tournament Championships and
4 holds the record for the most consecutive national titles;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, A long line of successful and historically
7 significant wheelchair basketball coaches, including Dr.
8 Timothy Nuggent, Dr. Brad Hedrick, and Dr. Bob Szyman,
9 continue to dedicate their time, resources, and energy to the
10 UIUC Men's and Women's Wheelchair Basketball programs that
11 are currently under the direction of internationally renowned
12 Head Coach, Michael Frogley; and
13 WHEREAS, The University's adapted varsity sports program
14 has sent many of its elite players on to compete in national
15 and international competitions, including eight current
16 students, four recent graduates, four alternates and numerous
17 UIUC alums attending the 2000 Paralympics Games in Sydney,
18 Australia; and
19 WHEREAS, Ms. Lauren Reynolds, a University of Illinois
20 junior swimmer, won three swimming medals in the 2000
21 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, a gold medal in the 400
22 meter freestyle, a silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle
23 and 4X100 free relay, and set a world record in the 400 meter
24 freestyle; and
25 WHEREAS, Ms. Reynolds has served as an inspiration and
26 role model to thousands of children and students with
27 disabilities, helping them set and reach their goals in life;
28 in recognition of her significant contributions, Ms. Reynolds
29 was named the Wheelchair Sports USA's Female Athlete of the
30 Year in 2000; and
31 WHEREAS, Ms. Reynolds is a junior and Speech Pathology
32 major at UIUC and is the only athlete with a disability to be
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1 chosen for the varsity women's swimming team; and
2 WHEREAS, The University's dedication to adapted varsity
3 sports program has created an important forum for students
4 with disabilities to compete with their peers in athletic
5 programs while helping individuals build self-confidence,
6 team work and setting personal goals; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
8 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we salute and
9 recognize the University of Illinois, its President,
10 Chancellors, Board of Trustees, and athletes for its
11 commitment to providing increased opportunities for athletes
12 with disabilities to participate in varsity sports and
13 encourage them to expand those opportunities; and be it
14 further
15 RESOLVED, That the Senate congratulates and recognizes
16 Ms. Lauren Reynolds for her dedication, perseverance, and
17 hard work in not only the sport of swimming but in her
18 leadership and example to all children and citizens with
19 disabilities to strive to do their personal best; and be it
20 further
21 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 presented to the University of Illinois, its President,
23 Chancellors, Board of Trustees, and Athletic Director as a
24 symbol of our support and appreciation for their continuing
25 support for varsity athletics for students with disabilities.