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Fundraiser for Burrell's Unified Bocce team pairs up students for new experience | TribLIVE.com
Valley News Dispatch

Fundraiser for Burrell's Unified Bocce team pairs up students for new experience

Kellen Stepler
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Kellen Stepler | TribLive
Kaden Johnson, 16, a member of Burrell’s Unified Bocce team, completes a drink order during a fundraiser Thursday morning at Cora Lee Cupcakes in New Kensington. Student Max Luzier (background), 15, was in charge of pouring the coffee.
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Kellen Stepler | TribLive
Max Luzier, 15, pours a coffee for Donna Penman of New Kensington as part of the Unified Bocce team’s fundraiser Thursday.
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Kellen Stepler | TribLive
Donna Penman of New Kensington purchases a coffee during the Burrell bocce team’s fundraiser Thursday morning.
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Kellen Stepler | TribLive
Cora Kobelenske pours a drink during Burrell bocce’s fundraiser at Cora Lee Cupcakes in New Kensington.
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Kellen Stepler | TribLive
Burrell’s Unified Bocce team poses for a picture Thursday morning while selling coffee and snacks at Cora Lee Cupcakes in New Kensington.

Bocce season for area high schools will start to heat up soon, but Burrell’s team was serving up some cool drinks Thursday morning in New Kensington.

Burrell’s Unified Bocce team, now in its third year, is part of the Special Olympics Interscholastic Unified Sports program. Sixteen students are on the team, half of whom are students with intellectual disabilities.

“It makes more of our mainstream kids realize that these kids are normal kids,” said Courtney Kobelenske, whose daughter, Cora, has special needs. “Once they get to know them, they realize, ‘Oh, they’re pretty cool.’”

The student-athletes made coffees and drinks Thursday morning outside Kobelenske’s business, Cora Lee Cupcakes, in Feldarelli Square off Freeport Road. The money raised will go toward the team’s end-of-season banquet.

Burrell’s first game is at 4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Burrell High School. The team has a mix of returners and first-year players, Kobelenske said.

Kobelenske is planning a similar fundraiser in February.

People also can support the team through its cookie sale, which runs through Friday and will be available for pickup in time for Thanksgiving.

Orders for two dozen cookies, at $25, can be made by calling Kobelenske at 724-681-5498. Pickup will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday or Wednesday at the shop, 2300 Freeport Road, Suite 20.

Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.

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Categories: Local | Valley News Dispatch
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