An email recently landed in my inbox that made my day.
Gayle Horton, director of Colin’s Lodge, a local recreation and enrichment center for adults with cognitive differences, shared how University of Dayton students are bringing joy to their members through their MANY volunteer hours.
“The impact of the Marianists’ values from students’ kindness is directly seen in our members’ smiles when a UD student comes to volunteer,” she wrote.
In 2018, Larry and Chris Connor along with their son, Colin, founded Colin’s Lodge as a place for adults with cognitive differences to be their “best selves” and “find their happy place.” Dayton Flyer fans know Colin, who has Down syndrome, for his energetic dance moves on the sidelines of Dayton Flyer basketball games. He rocks the Arena every game.
Since Colin’s Lodge began tracking volunteer hours in 2022, UD students have logged 6,099 of the 11,138 volunteer hours. That’s more than half. And it’s more than a stat. It’s an illustration of our mission in action.
Students in Gerry Gallo’s adapted physical activity course develop new programming, and some serve as interns in the facility’s personal training program. Other students lead a Saturday fitness class or teach rowing. At the Stander Symposium this spring, Justina Zolikoff ’26, an occupational therapy honors student from Cleveland, presented her research on how to enhance balance in adults with intellectual disabilities.
“I love volunteering Friday afternoons at Colin’s Lodge,” said Justina, who will pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy at Ohio State after graduation. “It’s awesome to watch the members progress and grow. When one was able to step up to the elliptical on his own, he gave everyone a hug.”
When Ainsley Lowell ‘27, a junior nursing major from Carmel, Indiana, joined PEK, the health science fraternity, she began volunteering, attending Friday night dances and arranging for students to participate in two or three events every month, from kickball to Zumba.
“The volunteers help members build more friendships and it creates a more inclusive environment,” Ainsley said. “I am hoping in my future nursing career I can tie in working with people with cognitive differences since I am very passionate about it.”
Justina and Ainsley are joined by other students from PEK, Flyer Enterprises, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Kappa Psi and Dayton Flyer athletic teams as volunteers. Senior Associate Athletic Directors Joe Owens and Krystal Warren support the program by inviting Colin’s Lodge members to campus athletic events and encouraging student-athletes to participate in dances and other activities, such as karaoke and cornhole.
“The giving hearts of the UD students are unmatched,” Gayle wrote. “The students come back multiple times and often continue to volunteer even after graduation. Volunteers are the lifeline to our programs and raise the energy and fun at Colin’s Lodge. Colin’s Lodge would not be as successful without each person from the University of Dayton.”
I’m so grateful UD students have discovered the joy of bringing joy to others at Colin’s Lodge. That fills my heart.