Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Fellman.
Hi Austin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
So I am currently a senior at Lincoln High School, graduating in May 2023! Throughout High School & Middle School, I competed in Speech (five years ongoing) and played tennis (seven years ongoing). Something that just recently came into my life was Special Olympics about three years ago. So at that time, I was a sophomore at Lincoln and a new class had arisen. It was called Unified P.E. So, not knowing what this class was I decided to take it anyway! So I get involved with this class and I start to like it. It is a course designated for those with and without intellectual disabilities to come together, make connections, and be inclusive! Through the nine-week course, Thief River would have Unified events whether it was Track and Field, Bowling, Swimming, etc. My teacher Mrs. Kelsey McLean would bring me along! I found passion in this and wanted to do more but didn’t know how! So skip forward to the next school year, junior year for me, I took the course again because I just loved it! It also happened to be the year that the Polar Plunge had come to town. That was also the first time I had met Shannon Murray who is a Schools Program Associate. So she works with all of Northern Minnesota. She ends up talking to Karen Bakken (Sped Teacher at LHS) and she recommended me along with Natalie Novak to be on the Board of Student Directors for the State of Minnesota! So we both apply and get accepted to be on the board! On the Board of Student Directors, we would talk about certain projects, what to do for classrooms, and connect to others who have the same passion. While on this Board, attending meetings via Zoom, I met this guy named William Duncan. He is such a character and is truly a great person! So as meetings go on and I get to connect more with Will, it was not until a Snowshoe event at Bemidji State University that I met him in person for the first time. Fast forward to April 2022, I am scrolling/looking around on the Special Olympics Minnesota page to see what is out there for me to continue to put my name out there. So I come across and see an application to become a Youth Ambassador. Not knowing what they do, I sign up anyway! I in fact filed by myself, but then April 19, 2022, a Leadership Summit was held at Bemidji State University. It was then that Shannon Murray told me to reapply for the Youth Ambassador role. Only this time with Will. So I say “ok” and applied with Will later in the month. So we go through this process of filling out the application and it gets accepted! That’s great! But the next part was to get interviewed by staff from Special Olympics North America and those who work with Unified Champion Schools. So we get interviewed but we didn’t hear back from Special Olympics North America staff until June 2022. The great news is that we were accepted! So together William and I serve the state of Minnesota and North America as Youth Ambassadors until June 2024.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, with all of my Special Olympics experience it has been pretty smooth! On the other hand, a struggle for us as Youth Ambassadors is that we can not always connect. Because we live in different cities, opportunities to work together in person are rare! However, through Zoom, we can schedule meetings and get things done that we need to.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am greatly appreciative to be a part of the Board of Student Directors. In 2021, I was a regular board member. Then come September 2022, I get the position of being Co-Vice President. Having this position, I help lead meetings and plan for bigger events or next meetings. I am definitely most proud of all the connections I have made with people with or without disabilities who love Special Olympics as much as I do!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
As sad it this may be, the death of my brother back in 2016 helped me strive to become the person I am today! I get involved in anything I can whether it is a school event or volunteering in the community. I meet and build connections with people from all across the nation and build trust with those I make a connection with!
Besides my striving personality, reality TV is something I am VERY BIG on! Big Brother, Amazing Race, Survivor, and The Masked Singer, Put me on those shows and I would love to appear on a reality show. Games Shows I also love playing and watching with my family.
Family is definitely a BIG part of my life! I try to enjoy every moment I can with my parents, aunts, uncles, & cousins! Since the death of my brother, my family has very much so come closer together.
Education is definitely another key factor in my life! During my years in elementary, middle, and high school, I have had tremendous teachers! I want to pursue the education field. Whether it is in Elementary Ed or Special Ed. Being a Youth Ambassador can help me take one more step closer to my passion!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.specialolympics.org/?locale=en & https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonorthamerica/ & https://www.instagram.com/sominnesota/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOMinnesota & https://www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympics
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sominnesota & https://twitter.com/SpecialOlympics
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GenerationUnified/videos
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sominnesota & https://www.tiktok.com/@unifiedgeneration
Image Credits
Shannon Murray
SONA Staff (Special Olympics North America)
Chlöe Nuttbrock (Youth Ambassador for Washington State)
