Luke Skywalker`s name was originally going to be Dirk Starkiller.

For our Special Olympics athletes,
playing volleyball manifests into more than
a simple love for the game. Participating
in Special Olympics blossoms confidence
within their athletes. It’s a program that
gives their athletes the ability and selfassurance to excel not only athletically and
socially, but professionally as well. Special
Olympics Arizona athletes Jeff Romero and
Carlee Scott are shining examples, proving
that passion and leadership on the court
can translate to success outside the gym.
Romero has been involved with
Special Olympics for nearly 26 years, but
has only been playing volleyball for about
five years. “I really like it a lot. People
really love me a lot because they know
how I spike,” said Romero and he’s not
kidding. Throughout his volleyball career,
Romero has had the opportunity to travel
throughout the United States for USAV
National Tournaments – the most recent
taking place in Louisville, Ky. – because of
his team’s talent and triumph on the court.
At the 2012 USAV Nationals in Salt Lake
City, Utah, Romero’s strong arm even
landed him a spot on the All-Star team.
“That was so much fun,” said Romero. “I
still cannot believe it. When they told me
that I was so excited.”
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His shot to stardom seemed to propel
other aspects of his life as well. Soon after
the 2012 tournament, Romero was named
the Assistant Director of the Best Buddies
program at Arizona State University. “I’ve
been a Best Buddy for about a year and a
half now and a Best Buddy ambassador,”
Romero explained. He also acquired his
first job, working with computers, shortly
after his Best Buddy promotion. Romero
exudes a confidence that he claims to have
gained through participating in Special
Olympics and now he is able to share that
with younger players. “I’ve learned a lot
and I’ve become more confident,” he said.
“A lot of players would tell me that they
were scared and I would teach them to
learn new things… Sometimes they can’t
hit over the net and I just tell them good
job and try their best.”
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Luke Skywalker’s name
was originally going to
be Dirk Starkiller.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
An equally strong force on the court
with a wicked serve, Scott has become
a player that others look up to. Scott,
teammates with Romero, has been
involved with Special Olympics for over
10 years and volleyball has become her
“thing.” Commonly referred to as the
“social butterfly” of Special Olympics,
Scott’s favorite part of unified sports is the
friendships that she is able to build from all
across the country. Outside of athletics and
socializing, Scott has another unique (and
revenue-generating) interest: Making soap.
It all started when Scott came into her
mother’s workshop and began to dabble
with the molds. “My mom started and I
followed her,” she explained. Scott’s mother,
Caron Williams, is the owner of Bubbles
Bath Boutique, a company that makes high
end, handmade bath and body products.
Williams has made products for several
Hollywood celebrities including individual
gifting Renée Zellweger and gifting bags for
the Golden Globes. Once she realized Scott
was serious about getting into the business,
Williams contacted her graphic designers
and she was overwhelmed by the support
she received. “I had a lot of people come
forward and actually donate their time
and service to create Carlee’s logo,” said
Williams. “Her business cards were made
by the owner of The Artesian Group, the
gifting company I belong to in Hollywood.”
Scott now runs Bubbles Bath
Boutique’s kids line called ‘Lil Miss
Bubbles.’ She is specifically in charge of
choosing the molds, fragrances and colors
that go into each type of soap they create.
“I get to come up with the flavors,” said
Scott. “My favorite is Wacky Watermelon.”
Scott’s entire collection is generated toward
the children’s market and she wouldn’t
have it any other way. “She picks out some
pretty outrageous colors. She’ll spend hours
picking out molds and fragrances and
colors. She has a list and as she gets those
items she crosses them off,” Williams said.
“She makes soaps and lip butters right now,
but hopefully we are going to extend her
line after this summer.”
As a parent, Williams recognizes the
strong effect that Special Olympics has had
on her daughter. “The confidence that it has
given her is just amazing,” Williams said,
tears swelling in the corners of her eyes.
“Carlee has an older brother and a younger
sister who have always been top notch in
their sports and they’ve always been the
stars. This gives Carlee the opportunity
to show that she was just as good, just
obviously a little bit different capacity…
There’s nothing we won’t do when it comes
to Special Olympics for Carlee.”
The monkey
in the Indiana
Jones was so
uncooperative
that hidden wires
were needed
to wrangle it
around the set.
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