LINN — What began as an idea discussed between longtime friends turned into a project involving several State Tech programs that culminated in the presentation of two cauldrons —one gas-lit for outdoor events and one LED-lit for indoor use — to Special Olympics Missouri on Friday.

State Tech Marketing Director Brandon McElwain explained that he and his friend, Special Olympics Missouri Marketing and Communications Director Zach Paul began discussing the idea last fall but the work didn’t begin until the second semester.

“Zach and I have known each other for 25 years, and we talked about it, friend to friend, and it just kind of happened,” said McElwain, adding that two years ago, State Tech hosted a small Polar Plunge with students in a dunk tank. “That started a small relationship, and then when Zach took over, and it took off.

“I always want to promote Special Olympics with anything we can do,” McElwain added. “We’ve already talked about maybe having a plunge this winter at Lake State Tech.”

Several Special Olympics Missouri athletes and members of law enforcement were on hand for the presentation as State Tech Dean of Academic Affairs Chris Muenks outlined how the project began.

“They approached us with the idea in late October or early November,” said Muenks. “I checked around with the programs and said, ‘Hey, we had a request to do this. How do you guys feel about it? Are you in or out?’ So everybody agreed that since it was for Special Olympics, it would be a good project. So I’ve sold everybody on it.”

After the first year, planning began with the Design Drafting Engineering Technology program. “We got them involved in drawing up some plans because all we had were a couple of pictures of what one looked like,” Muenks explained. “So we went from there and took it to the Welding Technology shop. They did the fabrication work, assembled it, and built it. From there, the propane cauldron went to HVAC. They worked on the burners and getting our flame correct. We didn’t know how tall a flame we would need, or what kind of burner we really needed, so there was a lot of trial in there. And then the electronics program finished the LED lights, and auto collision painted both.”

He noted the hands-on project gave students the opportunity to apply their skills to a cause that will impact communities across the state.

Moonlight Dent owner Travis Greer helped complete the painting process. “We just ran out of time, and we appreciate Travis stepping in to help us paint the electronic cauldron,” said Muenks. “It really was a team effort.”

One cauldron will be used outdoors and features a torch flame; an indoor electronic cauldron features LED lights.

“I got some copper strips and my assistant used her creativity to come up with a beautiful design,” said Muenks of the electronic unit.

McElwain’s department provided the State Tech logo used in the college’s marketing.

Special Olympics Missouri Senior Director of Community Development Crystal Schuster said the organization’s old cauldron was showing its age. “Special Olympics Missouri was honored to receive our current cauldron in 1999, and for more than two decades, it has been a proud symbol of our mission and spirit,” she said. “However, like all well-loved and well-traveled pieces of equipment, time has taken its toll. We knew we needed something new — and when it came time to reimagine our iconic cauldron, State Tech was our first choice.

“Zach and I were talking and he mentioned having a friend at State Tech,” she added. “It just kind of just snowballed. We showed them an idea of what we wanted on the gas one. We said someday we’d like to have an LED one also, and they surprised us by doing both.”

“When I came on board to work, I had heard the same struggles internally versus the outsider’s perspective,” Paul added, noting the torch cauldron was the priority. “We were hoping we’d be able to have it in time for our summer games at the end of May. They knocked it out of the park, not only with the gas cauldron, but the LED cauldron for us to use for our indoor games too, or rainouts. It’s going to help modernize the look that we’re doing.”

Paul added that the new, gas-lit cauldron will offer greater ease of transport for events across the state. In addition, the introduction of an LED cauldron opened the door to exciting, modern ways to showcase the powerful partnership between Special Olympics Missouri and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. “State Tech proved once again to be the perfect choice!” Paul said.

Schuster noted the outdoor cauldron would be transported to Special Olympics Missouri events, beginning with the Summer Games at Kirkwood.

Though the cauldron is fueled by propane, with a switch on the back of the unit, a torch is carried to the unit to declare the opening of the games. A battery-operated torch will be used for the electronic cauldron.

Schuster was thrilled to have Jefferson City Police Officer Adam Lueckenhoff and Patrol Cpl. Coby Holzschuh at the ceremony. “We are the charity of choice for law enforcement worldwide,” she said. “Here in Missouri, officers raise money for Special Olympics all year long. They raise over a million dollars every year, so we can’t do what we do without that partnership with law enforcement.”

Lueckenhoff is the Region 5 Coordinator, which means he’s involved in several mid-Missouri counties with the promotion of Special Olympics Missouri events.

With the completion of the cauldrons, Lueckenhoff said it would be a great addition to the May 28 Jefferson City Torch Run.

“This is the 40th anniversary of the torch run, and we’ll have a lot of athletes participating,” said Lueckenhoff, noting the event begins at 10 a.m. at Daisy Delight on the east side of Jefferson City and ends at the Law Enforcement Memorial at the capitol. “I just took over as the coordinator about a year ago, and I’m still trying to get more agencies involved because the torch run highlights what we do, and why we do it.”

He also noted that the electronic cauldron will be a benefit when events are held indoors. “Sometimes we can’t have a lit flame, especially in Columbia, where they don’t allow a torch inside facilities,” said Lueckenhoff. “Being able to bring the second one is phenomenal.”

Lueckenhoff vividly (and emotionally) recalls handing out medals at a golf tournament benefiting Special Olympics Missouri when his perspective changed. “I handed a medal to a young lady who said, ‘Hold on, I want to give this to a true hero.’ She handed it back to me, and I said,

‘I can’t accept that; you worked hard for it.’ She goes, ‘No you will take it,’ and gave it to me. I still have that in my room because it has such meaning. That changed my life, and that’s why we’re keeping this going.”

In addition to securing more agencies to further the work Special Olympics Missouri does, Lueckenhoff said he wants to involve more athletes. “There are many we’re not reaching, and that’s why I get more law enforcement involved in other communities,” he explained. “We’re going to get more schools and communities involved. And just by them competing, we’re also giving them access to medical needs or medical treatment facilities they need to look at their feet, vision, hearing, all that stuff. It gives them an opportunity to get out there and compete and be themselves.”

Lueckenhoff helps at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and said it’s always special. “If I’m having a rough day, I go in there and interact with the athletes,” he added. “There are three individuals in particular that always give me high-fives. One is non-verbal, but she always comes over to sit. I will literally get down and sit on the floor because her smile just brings a smile to my eyes. These individuals are very special, and near and dear to my heart. Some I call my very best friends.”

Lueckenhoff added that he joins in competitions like golf tournaments just to interact with the athletes. “I’m not very good at golf,” he said. “I love to go out and hit, but I’m not the best at it. I love just being there. This is just awesome to be able to incorporate this throughout the state, also highlighting State Tech and everything they do. It’s phenomenal.”

Claire Helmig of Linn, who was recently appointed to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s State Rehabilitation Council, has been involved with Special Olympics Missouri for several years, competing in both track and basketball.

“I would say it’s really awesome,” said Helmig of the new cauldrons. “It represents the athletes very well. Maybe sometime I’d like to carry the torch. That would be an awesome experience.”

Helmig proudly wore several medals she earned, as did another athlete, Nicole Birky, of Jefferson City, who won a gold medal in bocce at the USA Games. Though Birky hasn’t carried the torch, she’s been part of the Jefferson City Torch Run. “It’s great that the community supports special lives,” she said.

Abby Bax of Jefferson City has won medals in swimming, including a silver and bronze, and finished fifth in a relay. She was very happy to see the new cauldrons. “I feel pretty proud about Special Olympics,” Bax said. “State Tech does so many good things for special needs kids, like with disabilities, and young people who don’t have as much.”

Bax plans to compete in Friday’s Kirksville Games.

McElwain summed up State Tech’s enthusiasm for Special Olympics Missouri. “Everybody wins,” he said. “That makes it a very worthwhile cause.”