By Jesika Berger

Nebraska’s Special Olympics put another year in the books on Saturday, Feb. 16 for the Polar Bear Plunge. Starting in Omaha this event visits five cities across the state.

A team of three North Star students participated in the event this year. Junior Bailey Parde, and sophomores Monson Nguyen and Alex Taylor took the plunge. “We decided to make a team to represent North Star because it’s for a really good cause and we knew LNS has a special relationship with the Special Olympics,” Bailey Parde said, “so we figured, why not represent and also help out?”

When it came down to the time to get ready Team North Star was pretty stoked to take the plunge. “It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. It really wasn’t even that cold,” said Parde.

“I’d never done it before and it was really fun, so I was happy,” Nguyen said.

Aside from the jump, Special Olympics has any team wanting to participate fundraise at least $50. Team North Star took that as a challenge and raised more than $350. “We put all of Special Olympics’s information and what we were working for on an online page, and people just started donating,” said Nguyen.

If you missed the plunge in Lincoln, don’t worry there are still three more locations in Nebraska where you will be able to participate including Kearney, Auburn, and Scottsbluff. The Special Olympics opens the event up to people of all ages who want to volunteer their time, or take the plunge themselves.

If you’re thinking about plunging either at an upcoming event, or next year, here are some tips: ‹‹

Wear close-toed shoes to keep your feet warm while waiting.

‹‹Bring a towel and warm clothes to change into after you are done. ‹‹

Decorate yourself with a creative costume. Team themes are great! ‹‹

Get excited! Not everyone would jump into a lake in the middle of winter. Feel accomplished.