18 Feb 2016 Harding president plunges for Special Olympics

Harding University President Bruce McLarty plunged into the fountain in front of the McInteer Bible and World Missions Center on campus Feb. 17 as a part of the Special Olympics Arkansas Polar Plunge.

The Polar Plunge is a Special Olympics Arkansas fundraiser where individuals and teams jump into various bodies of cold water to raise money and awareness for the organization. Events are held across the state Feb. 18-March 12.

“As a former special education teacher, I have been a coach, a coordinator, a volunteer and a ‘plunger’ for 15 years,” said assistant professor of education Lisa Bryant. “My sons and I have plunged together since they were in elementary school. It is kind of a family event.”

Members of the Cannon-Clary College of Education’s service organization, S.A.L.T. (Scholars Advancing Learning and Teaching), held a bake sale in the University’s student center Feb. 11. McLarty said he would take the plunge if the organization accepted his challenge to raise at least $500. The bake sale raised $606, and Harding has collectively has raised $1,153 so far this year for Special Olympics Arkansas.

The official Searcy event takes place on Saturday, Feb. 20. A Harding team, which includes players on the University football team and students, faculty and staff from the College of Education and the department of communication sciences and disorders, will join others in Searcy to take the plunge at the Econo Lodge Inn and Suites.

For more information, contact Bryant at [email protected].