Former Penn State football player Adam Taliaferro has been named the honorary chair for the 2002 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games, held June 6-9 at Penn State University in State College. He will also address the athletes during the Opening Ceremonies at Jeffrey Field.

This is the 15th consecutive year that the campus will host the event, which will bring together over 2,000 athletes and 700 coaches from across the state for three days of intense competition in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis.

In a September 2000 game against Ohio State, Taliaferro suffered a serious spinal injury that doctors feared would leave him permanently unable to walk.

Thanks in large part to his positive attitude and fierce determination, he left Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia on his own two feet a short four months later. He has become a symbol of courage, heart and the will to overcome adversity for thousands of people.