STATE COLLEGE — Special Olympics Butler County attended Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games recently at Penn State University.

Butler County had 50 athletes participating in seven different sports. This year was a qualifying year for the Special Olympics International Games to be held in Athens, Greece the summer of 2011.

Valerie Stiffy, received a gold medal in her tennis events. Her name went into the draw and she was chosen to go to Athens, Greece.

Butler County athletes received a lot of medals and ribbons in their sports. The basketball 5 vs. 5 team received the bronze medal with team members Jacki Abel, Clint Atkinson, James Caldwell, Michael Gordon, Julie Held, Nicole McKinnis, Don Monn, Joe Osche, Carla Steffy and Jeff Walsh.

The basketball 3 vs. 3 team received sixth place with Ryan Burgoon, Madeline Burns, Larry Fend, Melissa McKinnis and Haley Spohn. Erma McCullough received a silver medal in Individual Skills Basketball.

Bowling single athletes included John Beam, Rosalind Burns, Sally Byerly, Mike Davis, Lori Schultz, James Yates, Jim Smythe and Carrie Reith. The team of Betsy Cable, Audrey Hamilton, Tommy Zinkham and Michael Spehar received the gold medal.

Special Olympics Butler County's sixth annual Community Day and Auction will be held June 27 at the Butler Township Park, 468 South Duffy Road in Butler.

A live auction begins at 1 p.m. with many items donated by local businesses. A Chinese Auction with over 30 baskets filled with many unique items and gift cards and certificates will also take place.

For more information about the auction or to donate an item, call Renee Spohn at 724-496-8871 or 724-285-4101. For information about becoming an athlete or volunteer call Mary Pitzer at 724-738-1477 or Patty Daniels at 724-285-4101.