TROY News Center

TROY – Nearly 1,000 athletes with intellectual and functional disabilities and about 350 of their coaches and chaperons will compete May 17-19 in the Special Olympics Alabama State Games at Troy University.

This year’s event marks the seventh year Special Olympians have competed at TROY.

Competitions will include 11 sports conducted both on the Troy Campus and at venues in the city of Troy and Montgomery, beginning with the opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. May 17 in Trojan Arena. The ceremony will include a parade of athletes and entertainment.

The opening ceremonies are preceded by the Special Olympics Torch Run by law enforcement officers state wide. In Troy, the run will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the City of Troy Police Department. The route will take runners south on South Brundidge Street and onto University Avenue, arriving at Sartain Hall about 2:15 p.m.

Sporting events begin on May 18 at 9 a.m. at various venues. Sport events include swimming, gymnastics, equestrian, bowling, track and field, softball, bocce, power lifting, cycling, flag football and golf. A Victory Dance will be held Saturday night.

Closing ceremonies will be conducted May 19 and will include a memorial service for those athletes who have died in the past year.

“The athletes are very excited to be returning to TROY,” said Dean of Students Herb Reeves. “Not only would we extend an invitation for students and community members to participate in the special ceremonies, but volunteers are very important in order to make this event a success,” he said.

To volunteer, contact Reeves at 334-670-3202 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

“We invite you to visit, cheer or volunteer to assist the athletes in having the best time ever.  Your interest and help is greatly appreciated,” he said.

ALBANY – Troy University has named Albany resident Keith Gaines its Albany Area Coordinator.

Gaines, who previously served as the assistant director of TROY’s Albany operations, had served as executive director of The Anchorage, Inc. since Oct. 2011. Under his leadership, the Albany site will serve southwestern Georgia.

“I am excited to, once again, work for my alma mater. I look forward to continuing to grow the strong relationship between Troy University and the Albany area,” said Gaines, who holds a Master of Science degree in counseling and psychology from the University. “The Albany and Southwest Georgia area is home to a large number of Troy University alumni and I look forward to adding even more in the years to come.”

Gaines has lived in the Albany area since 1991, and previously worked for Albany’s First Baptist Church and Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. He currently serves as part-time pastor of Edison Baptist Church.

“We are very pleased to have Mr. Gaines at the helm of our Albany area location. As a long-time resident of Albany, an alumnus and a former employee, he is a perfect fit to grow and lead our Albany location well into the future,” said Bill Glisson, TROY’s Atlanta district director.

TROY’s Albany Site is located at 321 William Jr. Street, in the building formerly occupied by Owens Sporting Goods. It is one of 23 locations in seven states outside Alabama. In addition to its four Alabama campuses, TROY also operates in six locations in southeast Asia and the Middle East, and serves students online through its eTROY campus.

“I encourage adults in the area who are either considering going back to school to finish a degree they started years ago, continuing their education beyond a two or four-year degree, or contemplating  going to college for the very first time to checkout TROY,” Gaines said. “TROY is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. We are able to offer some classes here at the Albany site in addition to the convenient option of our on-line classes.”

For more information about Troy University or to enroll in classes, visit www.troy.edu, call the Albany Site at 229-639-0303 or toll-free at 866-288-2097.

Keith Gaines

As a build-up to May 25’s opening of the Chattahoochee River whitewater course, senior officials from Troy University, one of the cornerstone residents of new development along the riverfront, have chosen to chance the rapids.

Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University, along with the University’s senior administrators will meet on Wednesday afternoon at the site of what will be home to the Phenix City Campus’ new riverfront academic building, enjoy a picnic lunch and then take to the river.

“Dr. Hawkins wanted to see, first hand, what the new whitewater course is all about and what this will mean for the Phenix City and Columbus areas,” said Dr. David White, Vice Chancellor of the University’s Phenix City Campus.

Dr. White said the group will hold its monthly cabinet meeting at the Phenix City Campus before traveling to the site and meeting with local officials for a picnic lunch. They will launch around 1:15 p.m. EST and come out at the Columbus Iron Works Landing around 2:30 p.m. Outfitter for the trip is Whitewater Express, an Atlanta-based company that will officially open for business in the area when the Chattahoochee course opens on May 25.

The course, which was created after 10 years of planning and work and by breaching two downtown dams, will be managed by Uptown Columbus, Inc. a nonprofit downtown revitalization company. 

To purchase tickets, contact the theatre office at (334) 241-9567. Tickets may also be purchased online for an additional fee on the “Subscriber Series” page of the website: www.troy.edu/davistheatre. Discounted balcony tickets are not available online.