Nick Giecek’s passions come together in adaptive recreation sports.
“I am passionate about sports,” says Nick Giecek, who played hockey and lacrosse during his years at Knoxville Catholic High. “But more importantly, I am passionate about helping people with disabilities.” Giecek’s twin brother, Drew, has an intellectual disability and autism. “Having a brother who has special needs has made me more patient, understanding, and willing to help people who need care.”
As an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Giecek majored in recreation and sport management with a concentration in therapeutic recreation. This incorporated enriching, hands-on learning environments and outside-the-classroom opportunities that included Camp Koinonia, an outdoor education program for children who have disabilities. He started as a camp counselor during his sophomore year and quickly fell in love with it. “Without Camp Koinonia,” he says, “I don’t know if I would have found out about therapeutic recreation and the direction I wanted to take in life.”
Giecek recently graduated with his master’s degree in recreation and sport management. As a graduate assistant, he oversaw UT’s Adaptive Recreation program, which allows every student to get involved with different sports no matter their abilities or skill sets. He saw teaching and implementing sports within the program as one of his greatest achievements.
“I’ve been fortunate to put my thumbprint on how the program should be shaped,” he says. “Students with and without disabilities take the class and come out of it with knowledge of the type of environment we can create in our community around disabilities.” Giecek has received scholarships that have helped him on his journey as a Volunteer.
“Donations extend far beyond me benefiting from the scholarship. Because of the financial support, I was able to dedicate more time to the program and the students that it was influencing. I was able to put more of myself into UT and that branches out to fellow students.” —Nick Giecek
Taking his experiences at UT, Nick is now the general manager of Nothing Bundt Cakes in Mount Pleasant. He has been a champion to the community and families’ concerns when their disabled loved ones age out of education and other programs. Giecek’s twin brother Drew has developmental delays. Once he aged out of school, Drew’s family wanted to ensure he was still living life to the fullest. While he cannot be entirely independent, the thought that Drew would have to live without a creative outlet, professional goal and continued personal growth was frightening and overwhelming, explained Giecek.
Their family took over ownership of Nothing Bundt Cakes in November 2020. Giecek pivoted from a career in therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports to managing the business and working with his brother. Giecek said Drew is putting in good work. “He contributes and is a productive member of the team just like everybody else,” he added. Drew didn’t start speaking until he was five years old; the family now jokes that he’s making up for lost time when engaging with customers and colleagues.
Drew’s duties include making boxes, assisting at off-site events, co-piloting deliveries and taste-testing. During his employment at Nothing Bundt Cakes, Drew has developed social skills and manners, has a better understanding of personal space, is improving his communication skills and is more confident. On days that he doesn’t work, Giecek notices that Drew is more wound-up; he misses the team and being a part of something.
Giecek appreciates that the university helps students find passions that fit their life. “With all the support, I’ve been given the opportunity to flourish and find myself. I’ll take UT with me wherever I go and use my experience in a positive light.” And that’s just what he did, positively impacting the Mount Pleasant community.
When you make a future gift to UT, you make dreams like Nick Giecek’s a possibility. Contact the Office of Gift Planning at 865-974-3388 or visit giftplanning.utk.edu to get started.
