MHS has been named a National Banner Unified Champion School for its commitment to inclusivity, according to the Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) website, which congratulated the high school.
To be considered for this title, a school must meet the 10 pillars of leadership. Some requirements MHS had already completed prior to filling out the application including having at least two unified teams. MHS already established the Special Olympics and the Dazzlers dance team with Mystique.
Other pillars required more work. Two buddies were required to represent the school during leadership meetings with SOMO. Seniors Chloe Gilbert and Hassan Khan were ready to stand up.
Gilbert and Khan were the two student state coordinators for SOMO from MHS last school year. The friends went to Zoom meetings with the SOMO team and other schools once a month.
“[We were] continuously putting the work in and having meetings and trying to expand,” Gilbert said. “Getting people to join Best Buddies was pretty much the process.”
Best Buddies is a program that connects students with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through clubs and classes.
Khan has a personal connection to the cause.
“[The award] made me feel happy because one of my aunts, she did the Paralympics in Virginia,” Khan said.
About two years ago, Ben Johnson, senior manager of Unified Schools for Special Olympics Missouri, met with Felicia Durst, physical education teacher, to learn more about MHS’ push for inclusivity and how MHS could do more.
This led to the encouragement for Durst to apply to become a National Banner Unified Champion School. Johnson even helped go over the requirements with Durst to ensure the application process went smoothly.
“It comes down to does the school truly care about 100% of the students,” Johnson said. “If so, then the Unified Champion School strategy is a fantastic one to help enhance current inclusive foundations. To truly create opportunities for students with and without mental disabilities.”
