University of Louisville receives Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Banner award

The University of Louisville has received a high honor in the form of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Banner award. It is the first in the state of Kentucky, and one of only 26 across the country, to have received the award, which is bestowed upon schools which meet ten criteria that demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity.

According to an article on the University of Louisville’s website, Karen Michalak-Parsley, who serves as the senior director of the Special Olympics of Kentucky Unified Champion Schools, was quoted as saying, “The UofL Campus Recreation Department is one of the most well-regarded programs in the country when it comes to collegiate Unified Sports. UofL has become valued members of our Special Olympics Kentucky family. The partnership we have is a model for other universities and SO State Programs. We feel extremely lucky to have a partner who not only welcomes us but seeks to do more for our athletes year after year.”

Among the criteria that determines a school’s eligibility for the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Banner award are engaging the whole school, providing equal recognition for all participants, fostering youth leadership, and offering unified sports.

The University of Louisville has been connected with the Special Olympics of Kentucky for decades. Initially, the university began hosting events for SOKY, and the relationship between the two has grown thanks to the university’s commitment to offering unified sports in its Campus Recreation Department since 2016.

Eric Piernas, who serves as the assistant director of intramural sports, said, “Sports takes away that barrier where you might not talk to someone but through playing sports, you connect with them.”

For more information about the University of Louisville, visit the school’s website.