East Stroudsburg University Athletic Trainer Inspiring Future Special Olympic Volunteers

Just hours into their first time volunteering at the Special Olympics’ 2026 Pennsylvania Summer Games from June 4-6 in State College, East Stroudsburg University athletic training graduate students Olympia Curley-Katrishen and Cameron Nunez had already seen enough to know they’d be back.

More than just the promise of career experience, another benefit quickly stood out: the athletes’ courage over adversity, support for one another, and gratitude towards their volunteers were proof Curley-Katrishen and Nunez had found a cause they would want to be part of again and again.

“I’m already signed up for next year,” Curley-Katrishen said. “I knew right away I needed to come back because the athletes were so happy to be there, they were so happy we were there, and they were the sweetest people I’ve ever met.”

Already on board for next year’s games as well, Nunez also knew right away that she was part of something uniquely rewarding.

“It was one of the most amazing experiences ever,” Nunez said.

A Trusted Mentor

The Summer Games is Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s largest statewide competition. Held at Penn State University, it featured nearly 2,000 athletes who competed in athletics, basketball, gymnastics, swimming and tennis over the course of three days. Curley-Katrishen and Nunez were among over 1,100 volunteers.

Though they were first-time volunteers at the large-scale event, Curley-Katrishen and Nunez had an experienced mentor they could rely on.

Dr. Jayme Galdieri, MS, LAT, ATC, an athletic trainer in ESU’s department of intercollegiate athletics, has been involved in the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games since 2002. An athletic training student at the time, his experience at the Games inspired him to continue volunteering once he graduated and became a licensed athletic trainer.

“It’s such a wholesome event,” Dr. Galdieri said. “There’s always smiles. There are never many hard feelings when it comes to winning or losing. The athletes are just there to compete and support each other in a positive way.”

In 2012, Dr. Galdieri became the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games’ medical care coordinator. Today, he serves as the Games’ lead athletic trainer with recruitment as one of his main responsibilities, he said.

Knowing the impact the Special Olympics has had on him, Dr. Galdieri suggested Curley-Katrishen and Nunez volunteer, as he encourages many of his graduate assistants to do.

“For students like Cameron and Olympia, they might go on to work in a setting where they’re working independently, so they’re going to need to be able to handle any kind of situation that comes along,” he said. “At an event like the Summer Games, they’ll be around other trainers and physicians who have seen a lot that they can absorb and carry with them.”

Dr. Galdieri was working out of the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games’ central operations center while Curley-Katrishen and Nunez were working at the events. Though he was available anytime for questions or advice, Curley-Katrishen and Nunez rarely needed it, he said.

“They’re strong individuals in terms of their knowledge base,” he said.

Dr. Galdieri credited the athletic training program’s curriculum for not only the students’ preparation, but also their willingness to dedicate their time to a cause like the Special Olympics.

“It speaks volumes that ESU promotes a positive environment for the students so that when they become actual athletic trainers, they want to give back by doing things like this,” he said.

Giving Back with Gratitude

As former ESU student-athletes, Curley-Katrishen and Nunez know what it means to compete at a high level. Nunez was a member of ESU’s Women’s Wrestling team and Curley-Katrishen ran Women’s Cross Country while undergraduate students at the University.

Moreover, as graduate assistants, they work closely with ESU’s current student-athletes throughout the year.

However, both students said working with Special Olympics athletes allowed them to see athletics and athletic training from a new, refreshing perspective. Whether volunteers were taping ankles, treating bruises or just showing their support, the athletes responded with gratitude.

“They were so appreciative of the small things we did for them and so grateful for us being there to volunteer, that it really showed how much it means to them to be able to have this opportunity to compete,” Nunez said.

Curley-Katrishen saw that sentiment firsthand when she treated an athlete after a hard fall during basketball, only for the athlete to run right back to his teammates.

“He was so excited to be there he just thanked me and said he needed to get back to supporting his team,” she said.

With high temperatures to contend with during the Games, making sure athletes were properly hydrated was a major focus.

“Many of the athletes go off some of their medications to compete, which makes them even more susceptible to heat illness, strokes or seizures,” Curley-Katrishen said. “We made sure to keep them hydrated and if they were competing outdoors, get them right into the shade after competing.”

Both students said they returned home from the Games with more experience and perspective than they anticipated, and are eager to do it all over again.

“I can’t wait to go back next year,” Nunez said.

Continuing the Cause

While Curley-Katrishen and Nunez are finished with the Special Olympics for the summer, Dr. Galdieri’s work isn’t done.

From June 20-26, he will serve as an athletic trainer for Team Pennsylvania for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a role he also held for the 2022 Games in Orlando, Florida.

The USA Games will feature 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches and 10,000 volunteers. Dr. Galdieri will work with Team Pennsylvania’s 91 athletes who will be competing in 11 of the Games’ 16 sports.

His work began when he was appointed to the position in spring 2025. He has reviewed medical paperwork for all the competitors, helped the Special Olympics PA leadership team with planning, and attended a training camp to prepare members of Team PA that will be traveling to the USA Games.

Once the team arrives in Minneapolis, he will work with on-site medical staff at each venue to provide care for members of the team, and act as the liaison between the on-site medical staff, athletes, and coaches.

“This is an underserved population, and these athletes can sustain the same injuries as traditional athletes. Athletic trainers provide care for the active population, and Special Olympics athletes are no exception,” he said.

After 20 years, Dr. Galdieri continues to be excited about volunteering with the Pennsylvania Special Olympics and serving its athletes.

“It’s the best thing I do with my life,” he said.

Learn more about ESU’s athletic training program.

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