HANCOCK CO. — Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) celebrated three Unified Champions field days in May with preschool, elementary, middle and high school students participating in the fun. Unified Champions is a Special Olympics program that engages schools in creating climates of inclusion, acceptance, respect and human dignity for all students. Students with and without disabilities competed on the same teams to provide an inclusive environment where every student participates regardless of athletic, intellectual, ambulatory or functional abilities.
The three elementary schools hosted one Unified Champion event with many students from each elementary who were combined into mixed groups in an effort to meet new friends. The elementary students rotated through various fun activities that were located in the middle of the track, such as: jumping over mini hurdles, running relay races, throwing plastic javelins (pool noodles), and long jumping.
Mt. Vernon Middle School and Mt. Vernon High School also hosted their Unified Champion event with lunch at the high school track. Their event consisted of similar activities as the elementary school event.
The middle and high school event ended by awarding the Andrew Mize Unified Champions Participant of the Year Award to Yaribelle Sanchez. This annual award is in honor of a Mt. Vernon student, Andrew Mize, who passed away unexpectedly in April of 2018.
The Mini-Marauder Preschool also hosted a Unified Champions field day in the field near their playground. These Mini-Marauders practiced teamwork and patience while getting their energy out on the sunny day.
