A record number of Eastern students joined in the 2006 Special Olympics Family Festival this year, topping out at 725 registered volunteers.

The day started out with a parade announced by the voices of “The Yawn Patrol” on Mattoon’s WMCI 101.3, where approximately 900 Special Olympians and 2,000 volunteers watched.

Throughout the day, Olympians and the volunteering “Friends-For-A-Day” walked around the grounds of Lake Land College in Mattoon playing games, winning prizes and dancing to Elvis impersonator Scott Wattles, who is ranked as one of the top Elvis tribute artists in the Midwest.

SOFF began as a much smaller event in 1984 when Consolidated Communications was looking for something to bring employees together. SOFF has proven successful, drawing approximately 3,000 people from the surrounding areas together for the one-day event.

Everyone walked around the grounds with bags full of prizes, and some Olympians were decked out in multiple prize ribbons, beaded necklaces and temporary tattoos.

Carrie Hagemann, a junior physical education major, and her Friend-For-A-Day won prizes like bubbles, compasses and a bouncy ball.

More than 20 games and activities were set up, including volleyball, T-ball, ring toss, nail painting, bowling, karaoke, balloon darts and pinatas.

“(Luther) is really excited about the dunk-tank,” said Sara Tallman, senior psychology major, about the Olympian she was paired with for the day.

Tallman said she had been volunteering at the SOFF since she was a child because her brother has Downs Syndrome.

Olympians lined up to get their pictures taken with Mark and Tim Hall, drivers of the monster truck called the “Raminator,” which was on display. The two were also signing autographs. A helicopter was also on display.

Participants waited in lines for hayrides and horse and buggy rides.

Andrea Brady, a senior special education major, and Stephanie Morley, a senior family and consumer sciences major, were on their way to the photo hut with their Olympian after visiting the football throw, tic-tac-toe, ski-ball and tattoo tents.

Brady and Morley were two of 90 students who belong to Alpha Sigma Alpha that volunteered for the SOFF this year. They said that helping out at the Special Olympics is the sorority’s “national philanthropy.”

Colorful characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Winnie-the-Pooh, Strawberry Shortcake and Santa Claus walked around the grounds, signing autographs and dancing with Olympians and volunteers.

Jessi Hawker, a senior psychology major, said when her Olympian saw the characters, they would sprint across the grounds so they could to meet them.

Hawker said she’s been a Friend-For-A-Day for the past four or five years because she works for Consolidated Communications, and it coincides with her major.

“I enjoy it a lot,” Hawker said. “Guaranteed, I’ll do it next year.”