As students poured into the gym on Friday, March 7th, members of Key Club and Unified Sports stood around the edges of the room, excitedly waiting to begin their assembly.
They would be announcing that EHS was the two-time winner of the National Unified Champion School Banner, an honor typically awarded just once.
“There are 21 National Banner Schools in Illinois, but we are one of only five that have received it twice,” senior Reagan Siron said.
The assembly contained games and performances from several Unified Sports teams. The award was presented by members of the Special Olympics of Illinois board and several people spoke about the significance of the banner and the importance of inclusion and acceptance, including Siron and Fox.
“Our students who participate in Unified Sports were able to showcase their talent and hard work for the student body,” Fox said. “This is something all students deserve to do and to be recognized for.”
Because this was the second time the school received the award, many students involved in planning felt that this was cause for extra celebration and excitement, especially since the last ceremony got little attention.
“The first happened in 2020 so it was still a really big deal, they just couldn’t celebrate the same way,” Siron said.
In order to qualify as a National Banner Unified Champion School, EHS had to meet 10 requirements set by a national panel. These include Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership and Whole School Engagement, and are standards meant to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment for all students and to encourage acceptance throughout the school.
Because there are so many requirements to meet, it’s rare for schools to receive the banner more than once. EHS is one of only five schools in Illinois to have received it for a second time, which makes the ceremony even more special for many students.
“Getting this banner is a huge deal because of what it stands for,” senior Reagan Siron said. “It shows that we are a school that is committed to inclusion, respect and leadership.”
The planning and preparing was done largely by students, namely Siron.
“She ran the entire thing and was behind most of the planning,” senior Caroline James said. “The ceremony was like her baby.”
Siron worked with sponsor Kayla Magruder and administration to plan when and where the ceremony would take place and create the schedule. She also worked with Unified Sports to plan their games and activities during the ceremony.
“She holds a position in Key Club that focuses on inclusion so this was a special project that was close to her heart,” Magruder said. “We had multiple planning events with admin, staff, and special Olympics to make everything work. It was a lot of moving parts, but turned out to be an awesome event.”
The banner is only good for four years before EHS will have to reapply. This time constraint is part of the 10 requirements the schools have to meet: how will the students and staff work to sustain the program even after the banner is given?
“In four years we will be reapplying and hope to have another huge celebration,” Magruder said.
This assembly was an exciting and engaging way for students inside and outside of Key Club and Unified Sports to come together and celebrate the accomplishments of not just the few student leaders, but of the whole school and its constant effort toward meeting the requirements and fostering the best environment possible.
“Since beginning Unified initiatives at the school, our culture and climate has grown to be more positive and supportive around students with disabilities, Magruder said. “It is incredible to see the love and support they get from their peers.”