SLIPPERY ROCK — Ryan Campbell has been running toward a goal — and reaching it — for a number of years now.

The Slippery Rock resident has autism spectrum disorder and competes in Butler County Special Olympics. He's qualified for the State Games at Villanova University the past four seasons, winning eight medals, including gold last year in the 5k and 3k races.

Only this year, the State Games were shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Campbell's running continued.

And he ran with a purpose — thanks to the Rock Life program.

“Being a runner is important to me and I plan to run for the rest of my life,” Campbell said in a prepared statement.

Now 23, he has been assisted in that regard by Rock Life, a program offered at Slippery Rock University that enables people with intellectual or physical disabilities to experience and benefit from college life.

Campbell is in his fourth year in the Rock Life program — one of 15 students currently enrolled — and is taking two college courses this year.

“He doesn't get graded in the courses he takes, but he does the work, learns the material and experiences campus life,” his mother, Laura Campbell, said. “Rock Life has had a tremendous impact on him.”

Rock Life operates on four pillars: academic, vocational, physical activity and social.

Each student is assigned a coach — an active SRU student — to work with him directly.

“Ryan loves to learn and he enjoys the educational aspect of this program,” Rock Life director Wendy Fagan said. “The physical activity portion is a great way for the student to meet other college students and make new friends.”

Zack Baynham, program coordinator for Rock Life, said the physical activity also “increases the student's ability to work different jobs that may require physical labor.”

Fagan agreed.

“The physical activity pillar helps prepare students for future employment that may be physically tasking,” she said. “We want them to be prepared to enter the work force and handle different types of jobs.”

Katie Proffitt, an SRU student majoring in physical therapy, competed on the Rock cross country and track and field teams. She became Campbell's personal mentor, coach and training partner.

“Ryan loves to run and he has the competitiveness,” Proffitt said. “He's always known how to pace himself. The big difference was getting him to push himself and show him how to build speed.”

That culminated last month when Campbell, with friends and family members cheering him on by watching on Zoom or socially distancing at trackside, ran a personal-best time of 7 minutes, 15 seconds in the mile at SRU's old Thompson Field. His previous best time was eight minutes.

His goal was to break that eight-minute mark.

“Since he couldn't run against other people, he had to run against time,” Proffitt said.

“That 7:15 was his reward for all the work and practice he put in,” Campbell's mother said. “They draped an American flag over his shoulders after the run to give it an Olympic feel.”

Campbell is a 2017 Slippery Rock High School graduate. He graduated from St. Stephen's Academy that same year and was a speaker at the latter's graduation ceremony.

“Running just fuels his fire,” Mrs. Campbell said.

“The past two seasons, I have been lucky to have Katie coaching me,” Ryan said. “She has helped me reach my personal best. She helped me improve my race starts, which has improved my times.

“Katie has pushed me to be the best runner I can be, and she always encourages me.”

Proffitt described Campbell's personal-best mile run as “a special moment.

“I knew he was capable of doing it. It was cool to watch it happen,” she added.

This is the fifth year of the Rock Life program. It began with four students in the first year and has grown ever since.

“Next year, we anticipate having 20 to 24 students,” Baynham said. “We have open houses to promote the program and we've gotten students through word of mouth.

“It's a positive experience for people and helps them build.”

Ryan Campbell is a prime example of that.