Fellowship, fun brings new PALs

In coordination with Habersham County Schools, Piedmont University hosted the annual Piedmont Athletic Lions (PAL) event on Friday. Due to COVID-19, this was the first time many students present had gotten the opportunity to experience this day filled with fun and friends.

The event was held for special needs students to get outside of usual classroom activities and had a pal with them to guide them through different games as the groups switched stations.

Ashley Webb, Parent Mentor for Habersham County Schools, said, “It’s great for our students to get out for social skills. It’s a great building opportunity with our local colleges. Our teachers have been super excited, our students have been super excited, and standing here as Piedmont students were checking in and learning whether they were gonna be a pal with one of our students, every student that was working a station said, ‘Man, I wanted a pal.’ It’s been special for our students, and it’s special for them.”

Around 75 students from Habersham County’s elementary schools attended alongside 120 Piedmont students.

“The spirit of our students, and the spirit of the elementary school students and the magic that occurs in this room makes it every bit worth what we put into it each year,” said Ann Sutton, organizer of special events for the university. “It pulls us together, and it also pulls the community together with the students and teachers.”