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The following Health Messengers have gone through a specific training designed to empower them to become health leaders, educators, advocates and role models within their Special Olympics communities and the community at large. This training empowers athletes to advocate for the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities and promotes athletes' knowledge of health and change in health behaviors.

Become a Health Messenger
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Health Messenger Profile

Clara Scholz

Clara Scholz started doing Special Olympics in Howard County when she was eight years old. She currently participates in swimming, hip hop, basketball and soccer. She is very competitive in sports and Special Olympics is an important part of her life. She wanted to become a Health Messenger because being in top shape for competition motivates her to have a healthy lifestyle by eating well, getting plenty of exercise and a good night’s sleep. She wants to share this with other athletes so they can be in top shape too. She attended Penn State Harrisburg in the Career Studies Program, a program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The college experience was amazing and taught her to be more independent. Clara, works as an activities assistant, and it is her dream job because she loves working with people and helping others.

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Health Messenger Profile

Willie ​​Okobokekeimei

Willie Okobokekeimei is a Special Olympics Maryland athlete from Prince George’s County. The sports Willie plays are bowling, track and field, and adaptive tennis. Willie wanted to become a Health Messenger because he wants to help out and educate people about specific health issues as well as influence audiences to adopt healthier behaviors in the community. 

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Health Messenger Profile

Alexea Wentz

As a Health Messenger I will make sure that my teammates know to bring water and snacks with them before any competition or practice. Maybe also making sure our coach has extra for us if that is an option. and keep encouraging them to choose the best meal and making sure they drink plenty of water. Some healthy choices we could eat would be banana, apples, and nuts. We could encourage athletes to pick those options by telling them what each of those items provide.

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Health Messenger Profile

Justin Hunsinger

Justin Hunsinger has been a Special Olympics Maryland Athlete Leader since 2014. The sports he plays include basketball, softball, soccer and golf. He is a Global Messenger and a Health Messenger and also works for Special Olympics as a Health Engagement Coordinator. 

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Health Messenger Profile

Elaina Camacho

Elaina Camacho plays soccer, swimming, snowshoeing, and kayaking. Elaina wanted to become a Health Messenger to help her fellow athletes achieve their health goals. She is passionate about healthy eating and sharing her tips with her teammates.

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Health Messenger Profile

Abby Gibbons

In the eastern shore town of Denton, MD, you'll find Abby Gibbons, a fun-loving soul with a love for ballroom dancing and the thrill of mastering new moves. When she's not gracefully gliding across the dance floor, Abby shines as an athlete leader within Special Olympics Maryland, showcasing her skills in basketball, kayaking, swimming and golf. With a passion for both athleticism and the culinary arts, she finds joy in cooking and baking. As a health messenger she wants to focus on healthy meals and snacks at competitions.

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Health Messenger Profile

David Godoy

David Francisco Godoy is a multi-sport athlete from Montgomery County, Maryland. David currently trains and participates in Bocce, Cycling, Equestrian, and Snowshoe. David has been part of Special Olympics Maryland since 2002. David has become a health messenger to set an example for other athletes to follow by living a healthy lifestyle. Which includes healthy eating, exercise and having a strong mind.

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Health Messenger Profile

Faith McLuckie

Faith McLuckie has been a Special Olympics Montgomery County Maryland athlete since 2007. Throughout the years she has participated in track, kayaking, golf, cheerleading, tennis, bowling, and basketball. She also serves as an Athlete Leader and Health Messenger. Her goals in life are to be independent and active and to be the good person to all her friends. She became a Health Messenger because she likes to see her friends in Special Olympics staying active and having fun.

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Health Messenger Profile

Dan Tucholski

My name is Dan Tucholski and I am 38 yrs old. I live in Annapolis now but I have lived in Monterey, CA., York, ME, Montville CT., and I was born in Charleston, SC. I moved a lot because my Dad was in the Navy. In the past I have participated in swimming, basketball, softball, floor hockey, cross country skiing, tenpin and duckpin bowling, horseback riding. I played soccer and went to the National games in Iowa with my team. I currently participate in snow shoeing, power lifting and track and field for Anne Arundel County. I don’t play the other sports anymore because I have gone blind.

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Health Messenger Profile

Joe Wu

Joe Wu, 61, is a Special Olympic Athlete from Montgomery County Maryland. Joe has been involved with Special Olympics Maryland for 30 years. Joe enjoys Powerlifting as an athlete. Joe is working towards being a coach in Track and Field, Bowling and Snowshoe. Joe most enjoys gaining confidence and helping other athletes.

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Health Messenger Profile

Abby Knight

Abby Knight, is 31 years old and loves Special Olympics. She is an Athlete Leader and health Messenger. She loves supporting other athletes in their sports. In the spring was her first year playing a sport and she played bocce. She wanted to become a health messenger because she wants to promote health care for everyone.

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Health Messenger Profile

Annu Singleton

Annu is an Athlete Leader from Baltimore City, the sports who has played 17 different sports. The reason he wanted to be a Health Messenger is because he want to set a good example for other athletes by exercising, eating right, and taking better care of himself.

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Health Messenger Profile

Adam Hays

Coming from Frederick, Maryland, I am a 39-year-old Special Olympics Maryland athlete and Health Messenger who competes in 6 sports throughout the year.  Adam wanted to become a Health Messenger because it is my goal to teach medical professionals how to better interact with people with intellectual disabilities.

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Health Messenger Profile

Peris Bennett

Peris Bennett is a multi-county athlete who competes in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County in soccer, track and field, snowshoe, Unified flag football, tennis, bocce, basketball, and duckpin bowling. He wanted to become a Health Messenger because he wants to improve his overall health and fitness and work on his skill level for current sports to advance himself for higher level competition.

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Health Messenger Profile

Corissa Anderson

Corissa Anderson is a certified Zumba and first Aqua Zumba certified instructor with Down Syndrome. Corissa graduated from UMBC 4 year SUCCESS program where she also gained experiences as an intern while also acting and dancing there. Corissa has over ten years experience with Zumba and loves to dance and cheer! Corissa participates in many other special Olympic sports year round also including bowling, pickleball, basketball, tennis, track to name a few.

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Health Messenger Profile

Hannah McNiece

I am Hannah Mae McNiece. I started Special Olympics when I was 8 years old in Illinois where I grew up. I did Basketball, Bowling and Track and Field. We moved to Maryland 6 years ago to be closer to family. Now I do Track and Field, Basketball, Kayaking, Golf, and Cross Country. I wanted to be a health messenger to encourage other athletes to exercise.

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Health Messenger Profile

Sam Smith

My name is Spirited Sam from Montgomery County.

The sports I play are ice hockey, soccer, softball and distance running. I decided to be a Health Messenger because I am a certified running coach/fitness instructor helping clients to stay healthy and fit and wanted to expand on my community with like minded people who want to stay fit just like I do. Thanks for visiting my profile!

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Health Messenger Profile

Zoee Flacks

Zoee Flacks is an athlete from the Baltimore City program. She participates in swimming, kayaking and bowling. She is a member of Team Maryland and will swim at the 2026 USA Games in Minneapolis. Zoee wanted to be a health messenger to educate fellow athletes on having a healthy lifestyle to improve their Special Olympics performance.

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Health Messenger Profile

Claire Potter

Claire is an athlete from Baltimore County who competes in Alpine skiing, kayaking and tennis. She attended the World Winter games in March of 2025 and won medals in Alpine skiing. Claire wants to be a health messenger to help educate individuals with disabilities about how to stay healthy and prevent health issues related to unhealthy diets and weight gain. Claire attends Itineris, which is a program for adults on the autism spectrum. She enjoys creating art and selling it at festivals and galleries.

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Health Messenger Profile

Briasia Moore

Briasia Moore is a Special Olympics Maryland athlete representing Baltimore City. The sports Briasia plays include Soccer, Flag Football, basketball, bocce, bowling and swimming. Briasia wanted to become a health messenger to help educate people about healthy living, health issues and habits that affect them.

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Health Messenger Profile

Nick Jennings Corrales

Nick Jennings Corrales is a Special Olympics Maryland athlete from Montgomery County the sports that he does are alpine skiing, soccer, swimming, and bocce. The reason Nick became a health messenger to help people make healthy food choices to eat and to provide better meal and snack ideas for people.

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Health Messenger Profile

Sam Livingston

Sam Livingston is currently an Athlete with Special Olympics Maryland competing in Kayaking, Flag football, Bowling and Track and Field for Baltimore County/Baltimore City.  He is also an assistant coach for Baltimore city Basketball and has been involved in Special Olympics Maryland since 2012. Sam wanted to become a health messenger because he wanted to encourage and motivate fellow athletes, unified partners and coaches to live a healthy lifestyle as well as be physical active in theircommunities.

If you have questions or are interested in learning more about the the Healthy Athletes Program and the Global Health Messengers. Email Leanne Ajabor at lajabor@somd.org for more information