One of three schools in the state to receive recognition this year, Free State’s Interpersonalized Skills program was given the status of a Special Olympics Unified Champion school.
According to the Special Olympics Unified Sports program, schools must continuously uphold 10 standards, falling under the three categories of inclusive youth leadership, whole-school engagement and sustainability. Several schools are chosen in each state every year, but the schools that are chosen must reapply for the title every four years.
Run by teachers Erin Campbell and Elaine Hendrickson, Unified Sports is a club which allows students with and without disabilities to compete together in an athletic environment. Together, Campbell, who also runs IPS, and Hendrickson inform families of upcoming events, help plan the Polar Plunge and try to keep the whole school engagement high.
“[The IPS teams’ goal] is that anyone who participates in IPS or Unified Sports feels safe, included, and has their needs met,” Campbell said. “The team has the best and biggest cheerleaders you could ever have.”
Senior Sara Kumar has been involved in both Unified Sports and IPS for two years. Kumar said that over her time in the programs, Hendrickson and Campbell have kept things fun and comfortable for everybody.
“They’re really good leaders, and they adapt to what different students need really well,” Kumar said.
Junior Olivia Storey has been involved with Unified Sports since she was a freshman, and now acts as a manager for Unified Sports by organizing teams, running the club fair and posting photos to social media. Throughout her time she said the program has done their best to uphold the required standards, specifically those falling under the category of inclusive youth leadership, and she believes that the award was well won.
“[Unified Sports] gives a lot of kids the opportunity to take on a new role and learn how to play a sport that is not in a super high risk environment,” Storey said. “We’re able to include other people who maybe wouldn’t have done something like that before, and work with all types of people to give them the opportunity to learn something about themselves.”
Specifically pertaining to the award, Storey said she and many of her classmates posted about the award on social media, and that it came as a surprise to the team.
“It’s so happy for all of us, it’s good to see our work being paid off,” Storey said.
However, as much as she was happy to receive the award, she also believes that the program’s real purpose lies in the effect they bring to the community, not just the title they’ve won.
“The whole point [of Unified Sports] obviously isn’t for recognition or any type of glorification, but really just for more outreach and the ability to bring joy to all types of people,” Storey said.
