Donna Nichols - Life Lesson Awards Honorees - 2025
Donna Nichols is the 2025 Mason County Sports Hall of Fame Area 24 Life Lesson Award recipient. Donna joined Area 24 Special Olympics in 1975 as a basketball player and is celebrating her 50th year as an active participant this year.
“Special Olympics in Michigan initiated with a summer games delegation that travelled to Chicago in 1969,” Area 24 Director Michael Hall indicated. “What is fascinating is that we have a local athlete who has been competing in special Olympics since nearly the beginning.” Donna still competes in swimming and is the most senior female Special Olympics athlete in the State of Michigan!
Donna has participated in basketball, poly hockey, athletics (track), horseshoes, snowshoeing and swimming through the years, often walking to the local Ludington High School pool to make it to practice.
Perseverance is a trademark for Donna. She lost both of her parents over 40 years ago and Donna has been living independently since 1979 in the Ludington area. At 80 years old, Donna is always on the go. She insists on walking whenever she can and is adamant about continuing to live on the second floor of her local apartment so that she can stay in shape using the stairs.
“I first met Donna 17 years ago when our son became a Special Olympics athlete competing in basketball at the age of eight,” Hall noted. “With our Area 24 sports teams athletes eight and up can compete and at the time, Donna would have been 63 years of age. I recall that she embraced our son, and all the athletes and was always respectful and a great teammate then and still is today.”
“I never get upset if I don’t win,” Donna Nichols said. “I just smile and accept my award no matter what place I come in.”
Donna appreciates the social aspects of the Special Olympics the most. She enjoys being around her teammates and is always one of the first athletes to run up and hug the military or police officers who volunteer around the state at sponsored state events. Donna has a collection of t-shirts she gets from Area 24 each year and has 30+ in her apartment.
Swimming is Donna’s favorite sport, even though she did not know how to swim when she started. Now, that’s a great example of overcoming adversity! Donna remains active in church and is said to be one of the first to start dancing. When asked if she dances to hymns, she said “no – I like to dance to some of the younger person music they play.” Donna has been “dancing” with her special Olympics teammates for a very long time now and is a true inspiration to them and all of us who have been associated with her.
Donna received another special honor this year as she was the final torch bearer lighting the cauldron to kickoff events for the 2025 Summer Games at Central Michigan University.