Irving, Texas – The Big 12 Conference has announced the 2014-15 Special Olympics Athletes of the Year.  This year’s winners are Jonathan Blackmon and Kristian Rowan. 

 

Each season, two athletes are selected among the states in the Big 12 footprint for their outstanding participation in and advocation of Special Olympics.  Blackmon and Rowan will travel to Kansas City for the 2015 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship to receive commemorative rings in an on-court presentation during the championship contest.

 

Blackmon is a 2001 graduate of Lewisville High School and attended North Central Texas College in a Special Education program for five years.  He worked for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing in Lewisville for almost 12 years and resides in Flower Mound, Texas.

 

A member of Lewisville ISD Special Olympics Team for 23 years, Blackmon competes in basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, long distance running, soccer and the triathlon.  He is a Global Messenger and a member of the athlete leadership program called ALPS and currently serves as vice president after having served as president from 2009-11.

 

In March 2008, he was selected to go to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to serve as one of seven athletes representing Special Olympics Texas.  There, he and others visited and worked with members of Congress to increase awareness for individuals with intellectual disabilities. 

 

In 1999, Blackmon participated in World Games where he won bronze in the 5,000 meters and fourth in the 1,500 meters for Team USA.  He aspires to be a sports broadcaster and raise awareness for Special Olympics and hopes to share what he has been able to achieve through Special Olympics and encourage others.

 

Rowan is an 18-year old senior at University High School in Morgantown, W. Va.  She has been in the choir and the Wild Hawk cheer/pep club during her four years at UHS.  A native of Maidsville, W. Va., Rowan lives with her parents Kathy and Mike and enjoys watching and attending West Virginia University football and basketball games. 

 

She has been a member of the Mon County Special Olympics since the age of six, practicing for two years before joining when she was eight years old.  Rowan has won various awards including gold, silver and bronze medals along with several ribbons.  As a Special Olympics athlete, she competes in cheerleading, track & field, bowling and volleyball. 

 

Rowan is also involved in Stepping Stones, a non-profit recreational facility for people with disabilities.  As a Stepping Stones athlete she participates in basketball drills, swimming and golf and is a member of the dance team.  In 2010, she won the Shining Star Award for her participation.

 

Last year, Rowan honored with the “Yes I Can” award by the West Virginia Council of Exceptional Children.  After she graduates from UHS, Rowan will continue her education at West Virginia University where she plans to help people by becoming a guidance counselor and job coach.