SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Special Olympics North America has announced that Augustana University’s Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® program will receive national banner recognition for the 2025-2026 school year for its efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
A celebration and banner presentation will be held on Saturday, February 21st, at halftime of the women’s basketball game at the Elmen Center against University of Sioux Falls. The game begins at 1:30 p.m.
Augustana University has received this distinguished status because it meets the 10 national standards. These standards were created by a panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community. Special Olympics South Dakota now has nine schools that have achieved this honor.
The primary activities within these standards include Special Olympics Unified Sports® (where students with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete as teammates), Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement. Banner Unified Champion Schools should also be able to demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities in the future.
Augustana University has been active in Unified Champion Schools® since 2016. They are actively involved in Unified Basketball, Spread the Word – Inclusion, campus-wide Unified Club® activities – like volleyball, craft nights, movie nights, and more.
Special Olympics South Dakota has 100 Unified Champion Schools® across the state as part of 11,000 schools across the country including 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Research studies have shown that the Unified Champion Schools® program results in improved attitudes by students without intellectual disabilities (ID) towards their peers with ID, improved school-based social inclusion, and increased social interactions with students with ID.
CONTACT: Julie Briggs, Vice-President – Outreach/Unified Champion Schools Director
jbriggs@sosd.org | 605-331-4117 | 605-941-0049
Jason Ferro, Director – Unified Champion City Schools
jferro@sosd.org | 605-331-4117 | 401-297-1699
