Appleton’s Brekke making a difference for students with special needs
Kari Brekke has made an impact on the playing field for Appleton North High School. She has lettered ten times in five different sports and she has been on the varsity basketball team for the past four years, including being named a captain for the 2016-17 team that went undefeated and won the state championship.
Over the last four years, Brekke has also made a tremendous impact on the lives of kids and young adults in the Appleton community. She has devoted significant time to helping kids with special needs through a plethora of different programs.
Brekke, along with her basketball team, has been involved with Inspire Sports, a program that seeks to build leaders by sharing their passion for sports with kids who have special needs. Brekke has been a student mentor at the program for the last four years.
“I spend about three hours on Saturdays with kids that have a disability,” Brekke said, “It’s really cool to see them compete because I think it’s something I take for granted and also something they don’t get to do as o en.”
In addition, Brekke has been involved with Special Olympics through her track team. She and the team host a track meet for the athletes.
“It’s really great to see their faces light up when they get their [personal record], or even if they just get a mark.” said Brekke.
Brekke also helps kids with special needs during the school day. She spends around an hour each day helping special needs classmates with reading and writing. She also takes time to work with the special needs children in gym class.
Her experience working with special needs kids dates all the way back to middle school.
“One of my best friends had a cousin who was autistic, so I would go over and hang out with him,” said Brekke, “It kind of gives you a whole different perspective.”
Along with her work with special needs individuals, Brekke has been involved with a number of different programs as well.
She has worked with Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU), a program that highlights the dangers of tobacco use. Brekke has given presentations to middle
school students, informing them of the dangers that come with alcohol and tobacco use. And, for the last year, Brekke has also been a part of Sources of Strength where she was selected by her high school teachers to be a peer leader. Sources of Strength is an organization that looks to prevent suicide, bullying and substance abuse by harnessing the power of peer social networks.
As a result of all her work mentoring youth, Brekke believes that she has found her future career.
“I’m doing an internship this summer with a program called Train 2B Clutch,” Brekke said, “They focus on mental training, and leadership. So if all goes well, I could end up doing that as my job in the future.”
Brekke will never turn down an opportunity to work with special needs kids and says that her work with those kids has given her an appreciation for what she is able to do.
“Any time I get a chance to work with kids like that I do it.” Said Brekke. “It really makes you feel blessed about the little things in life, like walking without assistance and being able to compete at the highest level. I want to do everything I can just to put a smile on their face.”
Athletes are o en recognized for the work they do on the field. The 2018 Wisconsin High School Sports Awards recognizes those accomplishments but also highlights positive impacts off the field with the I AM SPORT Award, presented by the Milwaukee Bucks.