Wearing his FCHS baseball jersey and hat, Fort Collins High School senior Austin Orth looks at home as he walks through the halls of Laurel Elementary high-fiving students with an enthusiastic “How ya doin’ buddy!”

Since last fall, Orth has been volunteering three times a week, working with students with special needs at Laurel through the PACE (Professional and Community Experience) program. PACE gives high school students the opportunity to work in a paid position or volunteer in the community to gain experience and explore career options.

Orth, who is interested in education-related careers, has been volunteering in Nancy Brauhn-Curnes’ classroom, helping students with special needs in small group instruction.

“This is not a job for me,” said Orth. “Its fun. I love coming here.”

Orth, a baseball and football player for FCHS, was so impressed with the students he’s worked with that he offered to teach them how to play baseball. After getting the school’s approval, he recruited FCHS senior teammates J.D. Hammer, Colton Connoly and Grant Forcroy to help.

The young men set up and manned three centers in the gym that focused on specific baseball skills - catching, throwing and hitting. They students with special needs each invited a homeroom buddy to participate in the activity with them. After working on their baseball skills, students were divided into two teams and cheered each other on as they played a baseball game.

“I’ve been blessed to play two different sports throughout my high school career,” said Orth. “I thought these kids deserved a shot at playing too. They’re just as capable as anyone.”

Brauhn-Curnes credited Orth and his teammates for organizing the fun event.

“This is an opportunity for them to give to us and us to give back to them. This builds on team building and respect. It shows our students that they can do this type of physical activity,” said Brauhn-Curnes, adding that she’s never had a PACE student initiate something like this before. “I think my students feel special.”

Students who participated in the fun include: Shane Stout, Olivia Roush, JJ Baca, Jacob Neeb, Alyssa Saenz, Jasmyn Zeigerson, Silvia Morles, Aracely Rodriguez, Robert Myers, Taytum Reicho, Sebastien Bastille, Colton Riggs, Marcelo Ferrie, Kyra Alford, Amanda Acott and Mallorie Hughes.