GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) - Thanks to its thriving Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools Program, Union High School has been cultivating a culture where every scholar feels like they belong. The program uses sports, classroom activities, and school-wide events to foster acceptance and meaningful relationships among scholars of all abilities. Program teacher Nicholas Claus describes Unified as “a strategy aimed at empowering a generation of students to change school culture to be more socially inclusive.”
A major focus of Union’s approach is whole-school engagement. Activities are designed and led by a diverse group of scholars, ensuring that all Redhawks, including those with differing abilities, are welcomed and actively involved in daily school life.
Among the program’s most popular components are the SOMIFit curriculum, which blends health lessons with learning a sport, and Unified Sports teams, where scholars play and compete together. Scholars have participated in a wide range of activities, including cornhole, track and field events, floor hockey, bowling, and basketball. Claus notes that these activities break down barriers, foster strong friendships, and promote a deep sense of belonging. They also happen to be lots of fun for the participants.
The respect, teamwork, and inclusivity practiced on the court and in the classroom naturally extend beyond athletics. Scholars carry these values into shaping the broader school community, and many take their experiences further by stepping into leadership roles.
For example, some scholars recently attended the Special Olympics’ Leadership Launch at Calvin University, gaining tools to amplify their voices and advocate for inclusion. Experiences like this support the program’s core goal of empowering scholars to design and lead initiatives that positively impact their school environment.
Claus emphasized that this type of scholar-driven approach is essential. “Social inclusion is best fostered when classroom, school, and community initiatives are designed and implemented by a diverse group of students,” he says. At Union, Unified Sports and student leadership continue to be powerful forces in creating connections and understanding across differences.
Now in its fourth year at Union, the Unified Program is helping scholars build a school where everyone feels welcome, connected, and valued.
For anyone looking to see the program in action, the Union Unified basketball team will be competing in the Comstock Park High School Unified Basketball Tournament on January 17, 2026, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
