Photo By Dorie Heyer | 191016-N-FV109-301 MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (Oct. 16, 2019) Capt. Douglas M....... read more read more
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Sailors and civilians from Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Business Systems Center (BSC) joined staff and students from Mechanicsburg area schools for the 30th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mountain View Middle School, October 16.
The event brought together Navy personnel with the local community in support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and featured teams from Mountain View Middle School, Mechanicsburg Middle School, the Chairiot Express, and local military and civilian personnel from Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg.
“It all comes down to disability awareness,” said Josh Starner, event organizer and equal employment opportunity committee member for NAVSUP BSC. “Our committee has a fun time getting involved with the community and getting to know the Chairiot Express team members year after year. This is really becoming a family event and it’s nice to see each other when we come out here. It’s almost like a reunion.”
The Chairiot Express was formed from two separate teams, the Pennsylvania Chairiot Racers and Elizabethtown Express, and serves to recognize individuals with handicaps through sports and recreational activities.
The tournament opened with the singing of the national anthem by local Mountain View Middle School students, Mandy and Sydney Bevenour, and key speaker remarks from Capt. Douglas M. Bridges Jr., commanding officer, NAVSUP BSC.
“This is the 30th year for NAVSUP BSC to sponsor a wheelchair basketball tournament in support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Observed each October, we celebrate the contributions of our workers with disabilities and educate about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents,” said Bridges.
During the tournament, teams competed for the title of wheelchair basketball champion. As players wheeled up and down the court, Mountain View Middle School cheerleaders, mascots, and guests roared with enthusiasm, enhancing the competition.
“I’ve done this for four years and really believe in the cause of disability employment awareness month,” said Christina Lewis, tournament participant and seventh-grade social studies teacher for Mountain View Middle School. “I believe that everyone deserves equal employment and that our students should be aware of this and participate in a worthwhile event like this. I think this shows that our government and our schools can work together for such a great cause.”
The seven-game tournament saw Mountain View Middle School Staff rallying past Mountain View Middle School students, 4-2, and Mechanicsburg Middle School Staff beating Mechanicsburg Middle School students, 10-2. In game three, Mountain View Middle School staff and students came together and triumphed over Mechanicsburg Middle School staff and students by a score of 8-6. The Chairiot Express shutout Mountain View Middle School students and staff, 22-0. Navy civilians defeated Navy military by a score of 12-6, and Navy military outed Mountain View Middle School students and staff 9-0.
In the final tournament game, Chairiot Express took home the title of 30th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Champion by wheeling past Navy civilians by a score of 20-18 in overtime. Chairiot team members included Shearod Learn, Tom McNaughton, Allison Goodhart, Cale Mcgowan, Lanice Dean-Jackson, Roann Leatz, Mike Tyson II, and Quinn Harrington.
The event concluded with Bridges providing certificates to the participants and passing the championship trophy to the Chairiot Express team.
NAVSUP BSC provides the Navy with information systems support through the design, development, and maintenance of systems in the functional areas of logistics, supply chain management, transportation, finance, and accounting.
NAVSUP BSC is one of 11 commands under Commander, Navy Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). NAVSUP is headquartered in Mechanicsburg and employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.
For more information about NAVSUP BSC visit, https://www.navsup.navy.mil/public/navsup/bsc/.
| Date Taken: | 10.16.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.18.2019 08:37 |
| Story ID: | 348178 |
| Location: | MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Wheelchair Basketball Raises Community Awareness of Disabled Employees, by James Foehl and Thomas Zimmerman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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