The Scott Holland Story
Meaningful Work Enriches Lives
Scott’s Story
“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
I see this working in Scott’s life, that he is utilizing his spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s purpose for him as promised in this Biblical scripture.
— Bryan Holland (Scott’s Father)
The initial goal was employment
But Scott Holland’s family did not realize at the time how much he would also enrich the lives of his future supervisors and co-workers.
Transitioning from the familiar environment of high school to the working world can be intimidating for anyone. The groundwork for Scott began years earlier. It may have appeared seamless to him, but that was because of the life experience preparation.
Scott joined the junior high football team as a manager in 7th grade. What started as planning for a smooth transition to high school by making new friends blossomed into a confidence that would benefit Scott later in the working world.
The High School Experience
Being the team manager in middle school enabled friends he had known in school, in Boy Scouts, and in Church youth group to get to know Scott in a different way on the sidelines at practices and games. It also enabled Scott to become comfortable in a variety of situations, and he developed a passion for his Mariemont Warriors, and sports in general, by participating in several sports himself, including basketball, track, and wrestling. His sports management role continued each year with the addition of varsity basketball when he began high school. By that time his friendships included students in all four grades, cheerleaders, football and basketball coaches, and other high school staff.
What his mariemont coaches had to say
“Scott is one of the most important members of our team, because of all the positivity and joy he brings to our team. As soon as he arrives, the mood of our team changes. People are more positive, smiling bigger and just happier when Scott is around. The positive experience of having Scott on our team makes me want to find more ways to include and involve as many people with special needs that we can.”
– Nick Leone, Mariemont Varsity Football Coach
“God has given Scott a special gift – to make people feel happy and loved. Scott has no enemies and lives life the way we all should. He has helped me with my own life and probably doesn’t even realize it. I’ve always been a firm believer that God puts people in your life for a reason. He will always have a special place in my heart.”
– Scott Vonderhaar, Mariemont Varsity Basketball Coach
Meaningful Work After High School
With a transition out of high school approaching, Scott and his team, which included Hamilton County representation, focused on supporting Scott in defining what meaningful work would look like by identifying his interests and skills, and looking for the work environment that would match those characteristics. In the meantime, a new pilot program focused on high school transitioning was starting at the University of Cincinnati (UC) titled “Collaboration for Employment and Education Synergy” (CEES).
Mariemont Schools took advantage of the opportunity to support the program and Scott participated in its first two semesters. CEES included classroom curriculum targeting employment soft skills, and role playing, followed by internships on UC’s campus. All of this allowed Scott to put the classroom training into practice.
“I love my work and getting to meet new people.”
– Scott Holland
The CEES program at UC and the internship opportunities Scott had through his Mariemont team highlighted Scott’s skills: positive attitude, outgoing personality, boosts morale and inspires, enthusiasm for well-executed tasks, success with repetitive tasks, and the ability to execute multi-step directions.
His work experiences also helped Scott identify his interests which included sports, working in a team environment, and generally interacting with other people. The goal was matching skills and interests in the right environment. This was achieved when he was hired at one of his UC internships - Aramark in the CenterCourt dining hall. Scott works Monday through Wednesday at Aramark and has cross-trained and mastered salad bar maintenance, being a stir-fry chef, and making pizzas.
“Scott was an absolute blast to work with! He was one of the first students I had the pleasure to work with and helped me to realize how rewarding it was to work with persons with special needs. We never had to worry about his work being done well.”
– Greg Matthews, Past Supervisor at Aramark
Scott’s love of sports, however, was only being met by his continued work with the Mariemont football team. Scott wanted to supplement his work to include a paid position working with sports teams at UC. He began networking, and through one of his fellow Mariemont football teammates who had a connection to UC Athletics, Scott prepared for and set up interviews with a UC football trainer, a UC Equipment Manager, and a UC Facilities Manager. All three brought Scott onboard to work with them. It was his UC Facilities position that met all his needs by combining his skills and interests with a great work environment, and he is paid for his contributions. Now, in addition to his Aramark position, he works fall, winter, and spring sports as part of a team setting up for the games, working the games, and breaking down and stowing the equipment/setup that is needed for each game. He has made friends with his fellow employees, with the players on the teams, and with other staff at UC. Scott commented, “Working with the sports teams and my work teams, and getting paid is the best.”
“Scott has positively impacted our department in a number of different ways, but I think his uplifting attitude has been so infectious to our staff at every event he works. He never hesitates to make a friend in both athletic department and event staff workers and always makes doing our job more fun.”
– Rebecca Michael, University of Cincinnati, Athletic Facilities/Operations
enriching lives
Scott’s contributions do not end with his job description responsibilities. He has been able to inspire others along the way, and it is this impactful benefit to others that makes finding employment that much more meaningful and worthwhile. It is Scott’s parents’ belief that he has influenced student athletes in at least two ways: first, that they will become employees in work situations where they will be comfortable working alongside persons with special needs and becoming natural supporters, and second, that they will become future employers/influencers who will hire persons with special needs.
The True Value of Finding Meaningful Employment
for Persons with Special Needs
“Scott built long lasting relationships with our players and continues his friendship with many that have gone on to college. Without Scott, the Sycamore basketball program would not be the same. Scott honestly made me a better coach. There are times in coaching when you get down after a loss or something gets to you in a negative way and Scott always had the ability to put a smile on my face even during tough times.”
— Andrew Ovington, Sycamore Basketball Coach
“I have had the pleasure of being friends with Scott for 10+ years. I have seen him operate in a variety of settings and am amazed at his adaptability and how effective he is. Watching Scott grow and succeed in so many different settings allowed me to see how capable people with special needs are.”
— Sam Rubin, Mariemont basketball teammate (2014-2017)
“I have known Scott for 18 years and have been blessed to call him a friend! He is EASILY the most beloved member of our program, now in season 10 with Mariemont High School. I could not imagine my playing, and now coaching career, without Scott in it! He has been a huge part of my life, as well as the hundreds of others who have been lucky to share a field or court with him over the years.”
— Joe Veenemann, Mariemont Assistant Varsity Football Coach, Football teammate (2011-2017)