Local Special Olympian Announces At NFL Draft

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

A Mesquite woman got to play a very important part in the 2022 NFL Draft event which took place in Las Vegas last week.

Samantha Aslin was given a special invitation to, not only attend NFL Draft Day 3 activities on Saturday, April 30, but also to participate in them. Samantha actually got to go up on the big stage and help announce the Dallas Cowboys fourth-round draft pick at the event.

Samantha has been an athlete in the Special Olympics Nevada (SONV) organization for over 25 years now. Her mother, Jan Aslin, also from Mesquite, has also been very involved in the organization, coaching many teams and sports including the local Mesquite Desert Stars team.

So neither one was surprised when SONV Executive Director Terrence Thornton called three weeks ago. They were surprised , however, when he issued this exciting invitation.
“He asked if Samantha was going to be busy on April 30,” said Jan in an interview with The Progress last weekend. “Then he asked if she would be interested in announcing at the NFL Draft. We couldn’t believe it! We told him that she won’t be busy that day. She could do it.”

The NFL Foundation had offered to sponsor two Special Olympians for a day at the NFL Draft. And Samantha was to be one of them.
“It was the first time ever that a Special Olympics athlete would be announcing at the draft,” Jan said. “She was so excited!”

Saturday turned out to be a busy day. The Aslins left Mesquite at 5:00 am to get to Las Vegas for the event. Once they got there, they eventually met up with a fellow 25-year SONV athlete Christine McCullough of Las Vegas, who had also been selected for this honor.
“It was a great event!” Jan said. “There was so much going on throughout the day.”

When it was finally time for Samantha and Christine to go on stage they were announced as Special Olympics athletes and the crowd went wild.
“The entire crowd gave them a big ovation when they were called up,” Jan said. “It was just amazing!”

The two went to the podium together, being depicted on a huge 40’x 60’ TV screen behind them. They teamed up to enthusiastically make their announcements for the crowd.
“They were both so excited!” Jan said. “And when it was their turn they were ready.”

Jan said that she was impressed that the SONV organization was featured and represented at this major national event.
“I think that the inclusion is what was so important,” she said. “To get that – to be included – was just amazing.”

The Aslins returned home late in the afternoon, exhausted after a full day. But Samantha was still very enthusiastic about what she had experienced.
“It was an awesome day!” she exclaimed.

Jan said that Samantha still has a full slate of upcoming SONV events in which she is participating. She is currently competing with the local team in track and field events and in swim competitions. In June, she plans to travel to the Special Olympics Nationals Bowling Tournament in Central Florida.