Tinley Park Special Olympian Carie Ganser now a Hall of Famer

Ambassador, service clerk, Particular Olympics athlete, board member and world messenger are all roles by which Tinley Park resident Carie Ganser has excelled, and now she has one other title so as to add to her checklist: Corridor of Famer.

Ganser, a 1993 graduate of Andrew Excessive College in Tinley Park, was amongst this yr’s 11 inductees within the District 230 Basis Legacy Corridor.

Carie comes from an athletic household: brother Brian, who performed soccer, sister Katie, who performed softball, and father Frank, Andrew Excessive College’s legendary baseball coach and an assistant coach for basketball. Carie initially cheered them on from the sidelines.

“When she was younger, there was no such phrase as autism,” mentioned mother Linda Ganser, including that her daughter is on the spectrum. It wasn’t till after she graduated from the particular training program at Andrew that Carie was capable of understand her dream of turning into an athlete as a result of on the time, the highschool had no athletic program for college kids like Carie.

Carie joined the Orland Park Particular Recreation Volleyball League and commenced competing in observe, basketball, powerlifting and different occasions in Particular Olympics, finally incomes greater than 100 medals. She grew to become a worldwide messenger for Particular Olympics and was the primary athlete to serve on the Board of Administrators for Particular Olympics Illinois.

And the achievements don’t cease when she will get to work. Carie, who has been a service clerk for Jewel-Osco in Tinley Park for 28 years and is well-loved by her clients, was named an envoy for the grocery retailer’s Change for Champions initiative, which raises cash for Particular Olympics via donation jars at registers.

“This yr has been an enormous one for Carie, all of which appeared to take us unexpectedly,” Linda mentioned, including when she grew to become ambassador for Change for Champions “her retailer made an enormous deal out of this for her, and she or he was so excited.”

“A couple of weeks later the Village of Tinley Park honored Carie at a board assembly with a proclamation — one other large night time. Subsequent we hear she has been nominated for the District 230 Legacy Corridor. Wow! Type of overwhelming.”

Carie was “just about in shock” when she realized she was named to Legacy Corridor.

“I’ve all the time seen when my dad or brother or sister would get an award,” she mentioned. “Being in particular training, I by no means assumed it will be doable.”

She acquired a corsage for the induction ceremony final month at Silver Lake Nation Membership in Orland Park, the place two tables of household and buddies have been readily available. “I walked up, I obtained the award and gave a thanks speech, thanking the one who nominated me,” she mentioned.

“She had fairly portion of the viewers in tears. She delivers from the guts,” Linda mentioned, including with a smile that fellow inductee Brian Forystek, a Sandburg Excessive College alumni who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles for seven seasons, advised her “Thank goodness Carie adopted me (along with her speech). She could be a tricky act to comply with.”

The District 230 Basis started Legacy Corridor in 2008 to “acknowledge and honor graduates from Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew Excessive Faculties who make an impression of their careers, their households and their communities,” based on a basis information launch. Amongst different qualities, candidates should additionally present a willingness to provide again to their communities and share their time and experience with others, together with at their alma mater.

“Carie Ganser is the epitome of what the District 230 Basis Board appears to be like for in a candidate: a D230 alum who succeeds in her discipline, after which provides again to her group,” mentioned Ann Oliver, basis president.

“She found and competed within the Particular Olympics. She not solely excelled in them, she took on a management position to assist others comply with their desires by serving on the Illinois Particular Olympics Board of Administrators. Carie is a successful athlete who gave again to the group by paving the way in which for others.”

Carie credit her household for her achievements.

“I wouldn’t be capable of do many of the issues I’ve carried out with out the assist of my household,” she mentioned. “My mother is the one who discovered the particular recreation program close by so I might take part.”

Linda learn an article in a newspaper concerning the Orland Park Particular Recreation volleyball and thought Carie ought to attempt it.

“She was nervous, however the second time we have been driving there she’s saying ‘I did the appropriate factor.’ It was the primary time she slot in,” Linda mentioned.

Though Carie carried out in performs in school, sports activities was her ardour.

“I’ve all the time wished to do sports activities, however with unhealthy coordination it was tough,” she mentioned. “I’ve fairly a number of favorites. I used to like volleyball and loved powerlifting, however I harm my again. That’s what I discovered swimming. Now it’s my favourite.”

Linda and Frank are pleased with their daughter.

“As mother and father of a Particular Olympic athlete, our considerations are the identical as for our different two (now grown) youngsters,” Linda mentioned. “As with our different athletes, we’re crammed with pleasure and delight when Carie achieves her targets and shines in her sport. Her pleasure may be very contagious. We’re all so pleased with this gal.”

As a worldwide messenger for Particular Olympics, Carie has realized to jot down and ship her personal speeches, presenting them to donors and company sponsors.

“I’m nervous after I rise up there, however as soon as I get going, it simply comes naturally,” she mentioned.

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She’s been interviewed on tv and radio, and she or he has even traveled to unfold the phrase about Particular Olympics.

“I simply love talking and serving to Particular Olympics by getting others concerned,” Carie mentioned with a smile. “Once I’m at work, if I see somebody with particular wants, I’m consistently asking in the event that they’re concerned in Particular Olympics.”

Carie mentioned she loves seeing clients and interacting with them at work, particularly the youthful ones.

And like many athletes, she has no plans to cease competing any time quickly.

“It’s like a second household,” she mentioned. “My dream for Particular Olympics is to sometime characterize Particular Olympics Illinois on the World Video games or nationals. That’s been a aim of mine for a very long time.”

Melinda Moore is a contract reporter for the Day by day Southtown.