The CEC tournament is an annual basketball tournament that students from our Special Education department participate in. The games are hosted by M-NASR ( the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation), and it is an event where young people with special needs can enjoy basketball like any other person.

The tournament will begin Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 at 8:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m.. A follow up tournament will be this Monday, Feb. 15, 2015 held at Niles North at 7:00 pm..  The games are hosted by M-NASR ( the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation), and it is an event where young people with special needs can enjoy basketball like any other person.

West should make sure our CEC students are appreciated and welcomed, and attending the CEC game is a great and fun way to help them out. Jacqueline Chis, the leader of WHO club, helps gather volunteers for the game and hopes that it will gather the whole Niles West community.

“The only reason CEC is any different [than other basketball games] is because unfortunately there is less attention surrounding CEC games, so its especially important to show support for our CEC team and ensure that they know that they have an entire community proud to support and cheer them on,” Chis said.

Not only is the game a great way for CEC students to meet new friends, but it is also great for volunteers to find and discuss with people who have the same passions as them.  Hubiba Ali, a senior who in charge of this event can relate to this.

“At this basketball game, we will be inviting other organizations like ours to bring participants over to West to have a day long basketball tournament for them to compete in,” Ali said. “It gives us, as an organization, a good chance to meet and communicate with others who are working with a similar goal in mind and gives the participants a chance to meet new friends and have a good time.”

Chis believes that the CEC event should be no different than a basketball game on any other Friday night.

Chis said, ” I think people should go to the CEC basketball game for the same reason they go to any other basketball game; to support their peers, celebrate team accomplishments, and to have fun.”

Student activities director Katie Odell is looking forward to the event and is excited for a West vs North event.

“I think it’s important to support all clubs, activities, and sports, but this even especially because the game is against North and a big event for CEC students.”

The game will be a red out and Niles West cheerleaders will be present.