During the 2021-22 school year, Greensburg High School and Greensburg Jr. High earned
banners as a Unified Champion School through Special Olympics Indiana and the IHSAA. To
earn the banner both schools had to complete four pillars throughout the year.
Champion Together is a partnership between the Indiana High School Athletic Association and
Special Olympics Indiana that promotes servant leadership among student athletes while
changing their lives as well as the lives of those with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics International is supporting Champions Together as a model program to
activate schools through “Project Unify” which also has the endorsement of the National
Federation of High Schools.
To earn the banner, the school must form an inclusive leadership team to organize events, put
on an event that engages the entire school to raise awareness, organize and participate in a
Unified sports activity and raise at least $1,500 at the high school level and $750 at the jr high
level.
Both schools were responsible for putting on for Unified Champions throughout the school year.
Both clubs work to spread kindness and inclusion. Last year the Greensburg High School had
20 students involved and this was the second time that the high school has received a banner.
The Greensburg Jr. High implemented Champions Together in the Middle for the first time in
2021 and were led by 10 student leaders that began to build the program.
In 2021, both schools placed a Spread the Word banners in the cafeteria, where students and
teachers could pledge to spread kindness. The Greensburg High School sold T-shirts as their
fundraiser and the Jr. High participating in a Kiss A Pig contest with the teacher raising the most
money had to kiss a pig in front of the student body along with Administrators.
Both the Greensburg High School and Greensburg Jr High participated in Unified Bowling at
Parkside Lanes where student athletes competed with their partners to bring full inclusion into
sports. The high school also participated in a Unified Track meet with North Decatur as students
with special needs ran with their peers in several events.
In 2022-23 we are excited that Champions Together will be in all three of the Greensburg
Community Schools. In December 2022, Special Olympics Indiana and the IHSAA will be
present in the high school and jr. high for a whole school assembly talking about the importance
of bringing total inclusion to our school. In November 2022, Greensburg High School hosted a
leadership training with Special Olympics Indiana where 10 students learned the importance of
Champions Together and how to build the program going forward.
In 2022-23, Champions Together is planning a Unified Basketball game at both the Jr High on
December 13, during halftime of the 8 th grade boys’ game and the High School on January 12th
during half time of the boys’ varsity game. We ask that the community and students pack the
stands to show support for our athletes and their partners. In the Spring the high school will
participate in a Unified Track meet and both schools are planning a Unified Bowling night.
In 2022-23, both schools will be having fundraisers, which include t-shirt sales where the
community will have three different shirts to choose from if they would like to support our
program. Another fundraiser that we are working on is the Polar Plunge that is hosted every
year in Versailles, In in February. Some teachers, staff and students will participate in this event.
The money that is raised will help continue our programs at the state level and here locally. The
money that is raised will allow our local students to continue to participate in events throughout
the year and bring new ideas to our schools
We are very excited that in 2023 the Greensburg Elementary will be starting a program called
Young Champions. In the Spring we will work to have a Unified Track meet with students at the
elementary and possibly the county schools. We are excited as the planning continues to
incorporate city, school and community leaders in this project. We are also working with the
Greensburg Police Department who has been very active in Special Olympics over the past
several years. This event will also involve students at the High School and Jr. High as they will
help mentor the younger students.
