Special Guests

2026 March Madness Special Guests

Steve Emt - USA Paralympian 2018, 2022, 2026 - Team USA Wheelchair Curling, Motivational Speaker

Steve Emt knows what it takes to overcome adversity. He had it all; the popular kid in school, the star athlete…he was invincible. Or so he thought. At the age of 25, his life took a dramatic turn when a drunk driving crash changed him forever. After hours of surgery and days in a coma, he woke up to learn that he was paralyzed from the waist down and would never walk again. Confined to a wheelchair, Steve was faced with the challenge of learning how to live again.

He was also faced with a decision. Lose the battle to his disability. Or accept what had happened and realize that he needed to lead a life of educating and impacting others. He chose the latter…nothing was going to hold him back.

After 17 years of experimenting with many different adaptive sports, Steve was introduced to the sport of curling. He not only fell in love with the sport but realized that his dream of being an Olympian may still be attainable. Through hard work, commitment, and dedication, Steve earned a position on Team USA in the Winter of 2014 and has remained with the team ever since. To date, Steve is a 10-time U.S. National Champion, has competed in 7 World Championships and two Paralympic Games.

Steve has overcome many obstacles in his life including his accident, the death of both of his parents, and other setbacks by finishing college, earning his teaching and coaching degrees, and representing his country as a Paralympian.

He has spent the last 29 years educating, coaching, mentoring, and delivering his presentation to groups of all ages, empowering people to believe in themselves and become the hero of their own lives. He is now an accomplished public speaker, sharing his formula for success and empowering people to believe in themselves and become the hero of their own lives.

Choices Matter - In partnership with highway safety offices across the country, Choices Matter is a life-changing program for students using personal stories and interactive materials to inspire students to make the right choices both behind the wheel and in life. Choices Matter provides a critical component of education for your students! 

Dillon - Hartford Athletic Mascot

Kizer- C.C.S.U. Mascot

McGruff the Crime Dog - Fight against crime

Sonar - Hartford Wolfpack Mascot

Former March Madness Guests

Connecticut Spokebenders - Connecticut Wheelchair Basketball Team

Dr. Bridget Cooper - Best Selling Author (Speaker)

Renee DiNino - Connecticut Radio Host

Steve Granata - Basketball Motivational Speaker (Couragous Basketball)

Corey Jones - Basketball Motivation Speaker (H.S. & College National Champion)

Kevin Nathan - Connecticut Sports News Anchor (12 time Emmy Winner)

Anne Parmenter - Trinity Field Hockey Coach (Climbed Mount Everest)

JoAnn Portelance - Hoops for Hearts (American Cancer Society)

Chris Poulos - BMX World Champion (Motivational Speaker)

Jodi Rell - Former Connecticut Governor (Awarded McGee a "Rell's Award")

Anthony Rivera - Salvation Army

Harlem Rockets - Traveling Profession Basketball Team

Mighty Mike Simmel - Professional Basketball Player with Epilepsy

Tony Terzi - Longtime Connecticut News Reporter

Brian Shackman - WTIC NewsTalk 1080/ Audacy

Matt Sirois - WTIC NewsTalk 1080/ Audacy

Janneen Lee - Brand Manager · WTIC NewsTalk 1080/ Audacy

Tyshawn Jenkins - Wounded Warrior Project

Sonar - Hartford Wolfpack Mascot

Chompers- Hartford Yardgoats Mascot

Prismatic Magic - Educational School Laser Show

Central Connecticut State Univ. Mascot - Kizer

New Britain Bee's Mascot - Sting & Buzz

New Britain Rockcats Mascot - Rocky

McGruff the Crime Dog - Fight against crime

UCONN Mascot - Jonathan

University of Hartford Mascot - Howie the Hawk

Quinnepiac Bobcat Mascot - Boomer

Over 200 Charity Representatives