United over sports

PERKINS TWP. — It truly took a team effort for a local high school to win an award based on inclusion. At a special assembly on Friday, highlighted by a basketball game, the Special Olympics declared Perkins High School a National Banner Unified Champion School. A Special Olympics representative provided Perkins with a special banner that will hang up in the gymnasium beside all other major school sporting accomplishments. Going forward, Perkins can call itself a National Banner Unified Champion School. Schools receiving an elusive banner meet extensive requirements laid out by the Special Olympics, which all relate to demonstrating a commitment to inclusion. Usually it takes three to five years to complete all requirments but Perkins High School earned this title in less than a year. Perkins earned this recognition after students, educators and employees not only adopted but embraced inclusion policies. Inclusion involves the action of including all — regardless of one's differences — in activities to make people feel welcome. Earlier on in the 2024-25 school year, Perkins High School first earned this title. The recent basketball game, meanwhile, took place to help accentuate, what many consider, a rare and distinctive privilege. Game on At the basketball game parents and district officials cheered for members of the high school's Pirates United organization as members spread inclusion at this game. Through various activities, including this basketball game, the organization promotes and plans activities revolving around inclusion. Any time Pirates United hosts a sporting contest, it falls under the umbrella of unified sports. In the fall, for instance, students hosted a football game. And there's other events happening all throughout the school year. Many people, including a representative from the Special Olympics, thanked Pirates United members for their efforts. "Unified sports is a way to have students with and without disabilities participating in sports all together," said Bookshar, the high school's intervention specialist and club adviser. "Sports tends to be, especially at the high school level, a common language that everyone speaks." 'It's life-changing' During unified sports contests, students help in every facet, which ranges from from playing to organizing and promoting. Take sophomore Jordan Wagner, for instance, who runs the organization's social media, communicates with media members and, above all, is a friend to others. She enjoys seeing everyone smile and takes great pride in showing her other classmates, not affiliated with the organization, what Pirates United is all about. Players taking part in these games "talk about it all the time," Wagner said. "It's like a core memory for them." When asked what the club stands for, Wagner simply said "unity." Being united means supporting everyone, even if that person is different than most. But just because someone else is different doesn't mean that person is any less important, Wagner said. "I'm making a difference," Wagner said. "I'm so glad I can be a part of it. It's life-changing." A high honor Bookshar said Pirates United solely does not focus on students with disabilities. It's about uniting everyone whether a person has impairments or sits alone at the lunch table. "I've seen it first hand what it's like to be excluded, and I know how people with disabilities are treated," Bookshar said. "I personally made it my mission to be an advocate for people and kids who cannot advocate for themselves." Kristi Peters, a spokeswoman with the Special Olympics Ohio chapter, beamed with great pride watching Perkins High School students fully embrace this initiative. "We are here to recognize you Perkins as a national banner school, and that is no small feat," Peters said. Peters described this achievement as the highest honor a school can achieve for its commitment to inclusion and a culture where everyone belongs. "You have received this honor alongside only four other high schools in the state of Ohio, and that alone is something to be incredibly proud of," Peters said. Other officials in attendance include a representative from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur's office, state Rep. D.J. Swearingen and Kali Ohlemacher, a recent Perkins High School graduate and Special Olympics youth ambassador. "This is what we've all been waiting for," Peters said. "This is your actual national banner. You have absolutely deserve this incredible honor."