Posted: 05/03/06

Wonder student does it all
Sophomore Jeff Ingalls wins Vermont Special Olympic Volunteer of the Year Award

Izabela Socha | contributing writer
isocha@smcvt.edu

Jeffery Ingalls says he was surprised and honored upon receiving the nomination and award for Vermont Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year Award on March 11.

Ingalls is a sophomore biochemistry major at St. Michael’s College.

He works as a bookkeeper at Hannaford Supermarket 15 hours a week, and is also an avid intramural basketball player.

Inside Ingalls

Ingalls is from Essex, Vt., just down the road from St. Michael’s. He manages to balance school, volunteer efforts, and extracurricular activities with a social life and family life.

While searching the Web one day, Ingalls says he discovered that he could volunteer for the Special Olympics. He says it appealed to his interest in sports and it would allow him to give time back to his community.

Ingalls has volunteered at the Vermont Special Olympics (VTSO) office in Williston for almost three years (since August of his senior year in high school.)

“It’s been fun doing it and I’ve met a lot of cool people," Ingalls says. "There’s a lot more I could do but I don’t have time.”

Ingalls says he plans on providing his assistance to the Special Olympics throughout his college career at St. Michael’s. His deciding factor to continue volunteering after college will be based on his plans after graduation.

Ingalls says he hopes to continue his efforts later on in life.

“In the future I wouldn’t mind coaching and having more interaction with the athletes—but as of now this is what I can do,” Ingalls says.

Giving back

The office has seven full-time employees and it represents all 35 regional programs around the state of Vermont. His time and efforts are clearly appreciated, according to the full-time staff and people in the program says Leslie Kaigle, executive assistant of the Special Olympics program. Ingalls helps with data entry, mailings and he also digitally designs projects.

Although most of Ingalls’ time is spent behind the scenes coordinating events and projects with other staff personnel, his presence is always welcomed, says Kaigle.

Ingalls volunteers his time at almost every Special Olympics event that is held in Vermont. Some events are the fall, winter and spring games. At these events, he organizes awards for the winning athletes, times races and manages the information and scores of the games. He says he also involves himself in fundraising events such as the annual Penguin Plunge, doing whatever he can to help.

“The greatest thing about it is you go to the games and see the support amongst the athletes and how happy they are to get awards or participation ribbons,” Ingalls says. “That makes it worth my time."

Ingalls says he was surprised and honored by his nomination and in receiving the volunteer of the year award. He says his parents have supported, and even volunteered at Special Olympics events with him.  

“They encouraged me to get involved with this. They were pretty proud,” Ingalls says.

"No matter what task is given, he always does it with persistence and quality," says Kaigle.

Kaigle admits that Ingalls was the most commendable person for this award, but doesn’t officially know how many people were nominated for it.

"Ingalls' radiant persona makes the staff laugh because he knows everyone’s 'quirks' and uses them to his advantage," she says.

“He’s a wonderful guy—I call him ‘Kid’,” Kaigle says. “He’s dependable; I know if I call him he will always do all that he can.”

St. Michael's connection

The Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (M.O.V.E.) Program is involved with the annual “Penguin Plunge,” which is a major fundraiser for the VTSO.

A view the annual Penguin Plunge which supports the Vermont Special Olympics that Ingalls volunteers for. (Echo archives, photo)

In the past, St. Michael’s had a more active Special Olympics program than they do now, but Heidi St. Peter, the director of M.O.V.E., says she would encourage and help students participate if they were interested. St. Peter admires Ingalls’ extreme efforts to volunteer so much of his time outside of school related programs.

Patricia Bunt has been Ingalls' chemistry professor for two semesters. She says she has noticed his overwhelming work ethic and amazing personality.

“He’s really disciplined; its more like a real life disciplined, Bunt says. "He’s a real conscientious worker and a pleasure to work with.”