Western Washington University Competes in Unified College Championship Week Presented by Special Olympics

Western Washington University joined 35 colleges and universities from across North America in the sixth annual Unified College Championship Week.

Presented by Special Olympics, this competition challenged participants to complete Special Olympics Unified Sports® activities that emphasized teamwork and promoted inclusion. These events brought together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), leading to new friendships, mutual understanding, and creating more inclusive opportunities for people of all abilities on campus.

Western Washington University placed 6th overall across the nation.

Unified Sports brings individuals with and without ID on the same team, giving them opportunities to train together and play together. Unified Sports is an integral part of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® program - a strategy creating sports, leadership, and whole school engagement opportunities for students with and without ID.

Throughout the week, teams worked together to earn points by completing Unified Sports events such as Unified basketball, soccer, and fitness events; inclusive social activities like team dinners; promoting the Spread the Word- Inclusion Campaign; and collaborating with Special Olympics at UW - all while amplifying a message of inclusion on social media.

Seventeen Unified partners, students without ID, from the Special Olympics at WWU Club and 12 Special Olympics athletes, those with ID, from the local Bellingham School District Community Transition Center participated in the event on Western's campus.

While reflecting on the week, Alexa Marcelo a Unified Partner and President of the team said, "For our first year as a program, It has been incredible to watch our team take instrumental strides, both on the field, and in our community to spread inclusion for people of all abilities. Special Olympics Unified changed my life and is continuing to change the life of many across WWU campus."

Co-President, and Athlete leader, Kaden Jensema explains Unified at WWU is all about "Friends and having fun!" Kaden does an incredible job bringing athlete voice, enthusiasm and leadership skills to the program every day!

To see photos, videos, and results of the Unified College Championship Week, follow the hashtag #SOCollegeChampWeek26, and visit @SONorthAmerica Instagram.

To learn more about Special Olympics college programming at Western Washington University, contact Alexa Marcelo at [email protected] or @Specialolympicsatwwu on Instagram.