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The University of Louisville is the first Kentucky university to receive the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Banner award, one of the organization’s highest honors. 

This award is granted to schools that meet 10 standards, demonstrating a commitment to creating an inclusive environment. These standards include offering unified sports, such as 4-on-4 basketball and cornhole, ensuring equal recognition for all participants, fostering youth leadership, and engaging the entire school community.

UofL’s engagement with Special Olympics Kentucky (SOKY) spans decades and originally started with the university hosting some of the SOKY competitions. Over the past 10 years, the collaboration has deepened, , making UofL eligible for the UCS National Banner recognition.

“The UofL Campus Recreation Department is one of the most well-regarded programs in the country when it comes to collegiate Unified Sports,” said Karen Michalak-Parsley, senior director of SOKY Unified Champion Schools. “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.”

UofL’s commitment to building its unified sports program began in 2016 through the Campus Recreation Department, with the goal of fostering inclusivity across the entire campus.

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

Eli Just, a senior in the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, has been a dedicated participant since his first year. He began with 4-on-4 basketball and has since traveled with the team to national tournaments.

“I can honestly say there has never been a time at a Special Olympics event where I have been competing or just there to volunteer that I haven’t had a smile on my face the entire time,” he said.

His participation in the national tournament was “hands down one of the coolest experiences” he had in college. 

“Going and competing with athletes and partners that I can call friends was truly an experience I will never forget,” said Just. “The smiles players would have when they hit a big shot, and the high fives they’d give you when you’d hit one was beyond compare.”

UofL joins an elite group of only 26 colleges and universities nationwide to hold the National Banner status. The university will maintain this honor from 2024 to 2027 and will continue to collaborate with Special Olympics Kentucky to expand their partnership.