13 New York State Schools Earn National Banner Status

Join 23 Other Schools Throughout the State with Highest Honors for UCS Programs

Albany, NY – Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman today announced that 13 New York schools have been named new National Banner Unified Champion Schools, along with nine more renewing their status for another four-year term. This distinction marks the highest level of achievement for Unified Champion Schools in the nation, recognizing their leadership in creating inclusive school communities where all students are accepted and celebrated.

The 13 new Unified Champion Schools earning this prestigious honor are the following: New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Sayville High School, Amherst Central High School, Niagara Wheatfield High School, Pioneer Central, Canandaigua Academy, Manhattan Occupational Training Center, Canandaigua Middle School, Chittenango High School, Fredonia High School, Newburgh Free Academy, Glens Falls High School, and Hoosick Falls High School. The nine renewing Unified Champion Schools are Southampton High School, Newark High School, Starpoint High School, Churchville-Chili High School, Irondequoit High School, Horseheads High School, Saratoga Spring High School, Ithaca High School, and Victor Senior High School.

In Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, students with and without disabilities play on the same sports teams and take physical education courses together. Students learn inclusive leadership skills and lead campaigns and activities that engage the entire school community to encourage and promote inclusion among their peers.

“Our Special Olympics Unified Champion Banner Schools are some of the best and brightest havens for inclusion not just in our state, but throughout our country,” said Hengsterman. “It’s our honor to recognize them for all they’ve done, and all they’ll continue to do.”

Special Olympics NY Unified Champion Schools are off to a vibrant start to the school year. Due to increased popularity among students, many schools are adding fall Unified Sports including bocce, soccer, and flag football. Statewide, 340 schools and nearly 5,000 Unified Athletes and nearly 5,000 Unified Partners play Unified. A long-term partnership with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has led to additional rapid Unified growth in recent years.

“NYSPHSAA’s partnership with Special Olympics NY has been an unparalleled achievement for hundreds of high school communities,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “We are proud of all these Banner Schools for showing the best of what New York high school sports have to offer.”

A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated the highest commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence. The standards were developed by a panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community nationally. The primary activities within these standards include Special Olympics Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement. To achieve banner status, Unified Champion Schools must also demonstrate that they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to continue these activities in the future.

These 13 new Banner Schools bring New York’s statewide total to 36. Canandaigua Middle has become the state’s first middle school to earn this honor, while Chittenango and 721M have become the first Banner schools in Special Olympics NY’s Central and New York City regions, respectively.

To get involved in Unified Sports with Special Olympics New York, visit specialolympics-ny.org/unified or send an email to unified@nyso.org.

SHARE THIS: