Frenship Unified Sports is a team sport that brings people together through Special Olympics. This program combines people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports team. Special Olympics provides social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences.
For the past two school years, Frenship Unified has created a space for numerous students to not only participate in sporting events, but has created a community rooted in love, service, and hard work.
Hannah Pharies and Jeremiah “JP” Pardo are two teammates who have not only formed a deep friendship but have excelled in Unified. Recently, the students were interviewed by a selection committee to serve on the Regional Youth Leadership Committee through Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools.
“Inclusive youth leadership is when young people of all abilities are given opportunities to be leaders in their schools and communities,” said Kayci Smith, Frenship Unified Head Coach. “These leadership activities help students find their voices and teach them to become change agents in their communities by promoting equity and acceptance. Social inclusion is best fostered when activities within the classroom, school, and community are designed and implemented by a diverse group of students within a school.”
Members of the Regional Youth Leadership Committee will collaborate and advocate for peers at the area and regional level.
“These two were selected for this committee based on coaches' recommendation, an application process, and interview process. The passion to promote inclusion on campus and in the community was perceived. These Unified pairs will be the voice of youth for the West Region. It's a national appointment and such an amazing honor,” said Smith.
Smith is beyond proud of the students and is excited about the impact they will continue to have on the community.
“Proud doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about these two amazing students being selected for such a high honor,” said Smith. “Hannah and JP have been on the Unified team since they were Freshman and have been leaders since day one. The love they have for this team and this program is unwavering. Unified has changed so many lives. It has impacted me in ways I could never describe, but watching this school rally for this team is something that will always remain as a core memory.”
Pardo loves being in Frenship Unified and has found a family through this program.
“Unified brought me friends that are family. We see each other in the hallways and at lunch and we aren’t just teammates. I still talk to two boys that were on the team two years ago, and they are in college. Unified is nothing but love and nothing but family,” said Jeremiah “JP” Pardo.
For Pharies, being in the program has shown her that the Frenship Unified family sticks together and supports one another no matter the circumstances.
“Unified is one of the best things I have the privilege of being a part of. It makes me and everyone else better for it,” said Hannah Pharies. “I love Frenship Unified. What impacted me and will always stand out as a testament for this program is the way we all came together when tragedy struck our team. When we lost one of our own teammates, it was the Unified team that was able to be there with him in his final moments and love on one another and be able to carry on his memory. We are truly a family, and I would not trade this experience for anything.”
Pharies and Pardo will continue to share their passion to promote leadership of inclusion at Frenship and in the community.
Congratulations, students! Frenship is proud to have you both on the Unified team. Thank you for promoting equality and being a driving force for social inclusion.