Marist University Hosts Dutchess County Polar Plunge in Support of Special Olympics New York
Two students taking the Polar Plunge in front of the McCann Center. Photo by Eric Johnston '26
On Feb. 27, Marist University hosted a Special Olympics Polar Plunge event in the McCann Center parking lot. The event was run by the Special Olympics New York, which collected donations from those brave enough to jump into the frigid waters on a typically chilly Poughkeepsie winter’s day.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino attended the event, briefly spoke and handed Chris Hamel, Polar Plunge co-chair, a proclamation from the Dutchess County Legislature. The Marist Band marched out of the McCann Center with the plungers, followed by a performance of the national anthem by the Enharmonics.
Hamel was one of the first people to plunge, along with Sgt. Alonzo Montanya of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and Sarah Raco. Other notable groups of plungers included the Hudson Valley Credit Union, Marist’s men’s rugby team and Marist Counseling Services. Individuals jumped after the groups took their plunge, including Student Body President Karina Syrota '26 and Executive Vice President Matt Fox '26.
“It was a no-brainer to come to Marist,” said Susanne O’Neil, director of development for Special Olympics New York Hudson Valley. “This school has so much spirit and potential to bring great events like this for the campus, and the students are always involved.”
Gretchen Murphy ‘27, who is the account executive for the Special Olympics via North Road Communications, deemed the event “really exciting and full circle” to see from both the perspective of a Marist student and as someone working behind the scenes.
“I hope that it continues to stay at Marist, and I hope that I see Marist students continue to show up year after year,” she said.
In her role, Murphy was largely involved with promoting the event on campus, including advertising the event a couple of weeks before it happened at a Marist basketball game, adding graphics for the event to the large screen in the Dyson Center and “finding ways to match to the correct audience and just get the word out.”
The work of Murphy and her team is not done as they are “really looking forward to putting together a video of the entire weekend,” which will also feature plunges done at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls on Feb. 28 and in the Eastdale Village Town Center in Arlington on Mar. 1.
A $25 donation was required for the right to plunge, with $125 netting donors a sweatshirt in addition to their plunge. Donations were collected in person between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. as well as online.
“Everything we raise here stays local and supports our athletes in the Hudson Valley, and everything goes towards their training, competitions, etc. We never charge them anything,” said Renee Snyder, vice president of development and public awareness for Special Olympics New York.
According to Snyder, “Special Olympics NY has over 50,000 athletes and unified partners across the state,” training for and competing in “22 Olympic-style sports.”
“Partnerships like this are vital to our existence,” said Snyder.