A Home Away from Home

| Special Olympics

For one unforgettable week, our residence halls transformed into a bustling Olympic village as over 4,000 athletes and coaches moved into eight different residence halls and apartments to be their home away from home.

Athletes entering a residence hall

The campus was alive with a unique, electric energy, fueled by the passion and enthusiasm from all the athletes. Behind the scenes, Housing & Residential Life desk staff and housing teams worked tirelessly to keep the building operations running smoothly. They meticulously programmed nearly 5,100 credentials embedded with sticker chips, ensuring every single guest had seamless access to their rooms and hot meals.

A team member vacuums Pioneer Hall during Special Olympics

Beyond the logistics, the staff poured their hearts into making the campus feel like a welcoming home away from home. Hallways came alive with vibrant, custom-designed bulletin boards that celebrated the spirit of the games and cheered on the competitors. The hospitality didn’t stop there; an estimated 3,000 trading buttons were enthusiastically exchanged between staff, athletes and guests, becoming the ultimate keepsake of the event.

Thanks to the creativity and dedication of our housing team, the athletes left with not just medals, but memories of incredible hospitality and a community of staff that supported them every step of the way.