Southeast and Southwest named national Unified Champion Schools by Special Olympics Nebraska

Special Olympics Nebraska recently named Lincoln Southeast and Southwest high schools as Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools. Both received national banner recognition for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities. This honor results from both schools meeting national standards of excellence in inclusion, advocacy and respect. 

“Two LPS schools receiving the Unified Champion School Banner designation proves each school is committed to recognizing the diversity of our population and to keeping inclusion at the forefront for our students,” Southeast Education Coordinator Sara Jones-Salak said. 

Southeast and Southwest celebrated this award with pep rallies at their respective schools and a joint presentation before the varsity football game on Sept. 30. Special Olympics presented them with a banner to hang in their school and be included on a list of other schools around the country that have achieved this distinguished status - only a select few received this honor.

“Our students were very excited! This recognition is validation of the hard work and dedication that our students have put forth to make Southwest a unified school where all students belong,” Southwest Special Education Coordinator Christy Champoux said. 

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is a strategy for schools Pre-K through college that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion. Social inclusion brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities to create accepting school environments by utilizing three interconnected components: Special Olympics Unified Sports®, inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement.

More than 15 Nebraska schools are currently participating in Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools programming as part of more than 8,000 schools across the country engaged in the program. Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools aims to expand to 10,000 schools nationwide by the end of the 2023-2024 school year. 

Check out highlights from each school's pep rallies when the honor was announced:

 

Southeast:

 

Southwest: 

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