Sascha Rubens became one of eight students in Illinois to receive a Choose to Include scholarship from Special Olympics of Illinois. This is awarded to students that demonstrate commitment to building an inclusive environment within their school and community.
By Kelly White
Sascha Rubens has left quite the imprint on her former high school.
Rubens become one of eight students in Illinois to receive a Choose to Include scholarship from Special Olympics of Illinois. This is awarded to students that demonstrate commitment to building an inclusive environment within their school and community.
“I am extremely grateful to have received such prestigious scholarships through the Golden Apple Foundation and Special Olympics,” Rubens, 18, of Alsip, said. “These scholarships will allow me to pursue my dream of being an impactful special education teacher in the future.”
During her high school years, Rubens was always very actively involved with the POWER P.E. program at Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights.
Shepard’s POWER PE stands for Physical Opportunities with Exceptional Rewards. In this program, students apply to work as buddies or mentors for their peers with disabilities in the physical education (PE) setting.
“Sascha embodies everything our POWER program is about,” Ashley Lythberg, POWER P.E. instructor at Shepard, said. “She is inclusive, kind, compassionate, mature and has the most contagious positive energy I have ever seen in a person.”
However, Ruben’s incredible accomplishments do not stop there, as she was also the President of the African American Club, a member of German club, member of Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Honors Society, Homecoming Queen, Advanced Placement Peer Mentor, Freshman Mentor, a member of Ed-Rising (teaching internship), Communications Club, Presidents Club, Student Voice, Student Advisory, Prom Queen, and last but definitely not least, a POWER P.E. Mentor for Shepard students.
The past two years she has ranked among one of the top fund raisers for Special Olympics through the school’s Polar Plunge. She has also received a Golden Apple Scholar Award and plans in the future to become a special education teacher herself.
“She is respectful and consistently sets the standard for how people should treat others in the school and community,” Lythberg said. “Sascha is involved in countless clubs and activities at Shepard and still makes time to fundraise and volunteer for Special Olympics whenever possible. She makes Shepard a better place to be and has definitely left her mark here. Sascha will be missed next year, but I know her future as a special educator is bright.”
Ruben’s inspiration for being involved with special education programming stemmed from her father, Timothy, who has always been very actively involved and served for 17 years as a coordinator and coach for the Special Olympics.
“I see the smiles he puts on his athletes’ and coworkers’ faces, and I would like to do just that and more for my future students and athletes,” Rubens said. “Life is hard enough, but when someone can make you smile or laugh, life can feel easy. I would love to continue to be a mentor and make a difference.”
Rubens will be attending Illinois State University in the fall because of its well-accredited teaching program.
“I just want to be the best teacher and advocate for students with special needs that I can be,” Rubens said. “I’ve visited Illinois State University three times and every time I feel like it is exactly where I belong.”