ECC PTA Students Join Polar Bear Plunge

NEWARK, N.J. – Essex County College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students recently took part in the Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights, joining thousands of participants in support of Special Olympics New Jersey.

Albert Velez, Sergio Roa, and Christopher Rios pose with a Polar Bear Plunge mascot in Seaside Heights, N.J., ahead of the big dip.

Students Sergio Roa, Christopher Rios, Albert Velez, and Zoe Aguilar represented the College at the March 14 event. Roa, Rios, and Velez took the plunge into the Atlantic Ocean, facing water temperatures near 40 degrees, while Aguilar supported the effort from shore.

The annual event brought together an estimated 7,000 participants and raised more than $2.3 million to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey. Each participant contributed to the fundraising effort, helping to support programs that serve athletes across the state, including statewide events such as the Summer Games.

Participants rush into the Atlantic Ocean during the Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights, N.J.

The students’ participation reflects both the spirit of service and the sense of community that are central to the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Essex County College.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Essex County College prepares students for careers in patient care through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experience. Learn more at essex.edu/pta-overview.