Congratulations to all 2019 Particular Olympics Vermont Award Winners! Awards had been offered on the State of Inclusion Convention on the UVM Davis Middle on November 1st, 2019.
Head of Delegation of the 12 months
Jim Wacker ~ Addison
There isn’t a another devoted to SOVT and the athletes, households and caretakers than Jim Wacker. He has been a tireless volunteer and coordinator for the Addison program for 9 years. He has been an advocate and cheerleader for all athletes. He has labored numerous hours for the success of Particular Olympics Vermont on the native and state degree. Anybody who has labored with Jim is effectively conscious of his dedication and group.
Coach of the 12 months
Jamie Moore ~ Bellcate College
Jamie’s ardour for sports activities is simple. When Jamie took over the Particular Olympics program at Bellcate, he breathed a enjoyable, recent, and centered vitality into each sport Bellcate gives. College students have centered coaching, breaking down abilities into manageable studying moments. They’ve set routines to heat up, stretch, be taught, prepare, compete inside class, rejoice themselves and one another, and Jamie all the time makes certain to get your entire Bellcate faculty group concerned in each occasion. Bellcate athletes, companions and their households are endlessly grateful for Jamie’s love, dedication, route, and drive.
Unified Coach of the 12 months
Tyler Boone ~ Brattleboro
Tyler is in his second 12 months of teaching 3 Unified Sports activities (soccer, snowshoe, basketball) at Brattleboro Union Excessive College. Tyler is optimistic, energetic and is all the time in search of methods to develop the unified program within the faculty and group. Tyler brings loads of pleasure, particularly since he’s a “one man present” at Brattleboro; he does all of it! Congratulations Tyler!
Athlete of the 12 months
Tyler Rippee ~ Franklin County
Tyler has improved a lot within the 3 years since he began Particular Olympics. When he began he wanted a number of breaks and further help throughout follow and video games to take part. Now he follows together with the group, listens to his coaches, and participates throughout all of follow. His abilities have additionally improved immensely. Annually he makes extra hits and catches, scores extra baskets and makes extra passes. He has his thoughts set on pitching or catching for softball, and there’s no doubt that he’ll get there.
Unified Athlete of the 12 months
Ian Carpenter ~ BFA St. Albans
Ian Carpenter is an incredible younger man. He participates in 5 faculty primarily based Unified sports activities, VPA Unified basketball, and three Highschool sports activities. When he’s not busy with BFA actions, he’s additionally concerned with UVM’s health membership. Ian is a job mannequin for true inclusion. He participates in as many faculty actions as doable together with the homecoming float, soccer video games, hockey video games, and performs. For a few years, Ian has handed out towels on the Penguin Plunge, and at last took the plunge in 2018 + 2019 with the BFA crew. Ian embodies the true philosophy of Unified Sports activities.
Accomplice of the 12 months
Justin O’Brien ~ Chittenden
Justin has been taking part in softball for two years, and not too long ago joined as a Unified Accomplice for basketball. He additionally takes the time to assist at bowling. He’s particularly good with serving to athletes to construct confidence, independence, and past.
Unified Accomplice of the 12 months
Livia Bernhardt ~ Otter Valley
Livia was one of many first college students to precise an curiosity in bringing a unified program to Otter Valley. She is a affected person chief who has an incredible means of creating all gamers really feel comfy, serving to them construct the power and confidence to provide it their all. She is commonly seen speaking to the gamers on the crew within the halls, high-fiving and persevering with to construct these relationships that began on the courtroom. It has been an honor and a privilege to have the ability to have Livia on Otter Valley’s Unified crew.
Rookie of the 12 months
Trudy Booska ~ Specialised Neighborhood Care
Specialised Neighborhood Care, primarily based in Middlebury, began as a unified softball crew in 2018. Trudy and the crew has accepted quite a few athletes from surrounding areas who haven’t discovered their “residence” in an area program. Lately, at Fall Video games, they stepped as much as help with Softball, and are all the time keen to assist when wanted.
Unified Champion Rookie of the 12 months
Albert D. Lawton
ADL crushed their first 12 months in UCS programming – they embraced all 3 parts, and even began their very own home-grown interscholastic unified basketball match for native center colleges. They’re inventive, and all the time in search of revolutionary methods to develop their program. They’re very aware of all SOVT wants, and are true crew gamers who’re all the time constructive, and supportive of this work.
Play On! Award for Unified Effort
This award is for 3 native packages who’ve gone above and past to stay out the Play On! Mannequin by working carefully with colleges of their space.
Franklin County
Chittenden County
Northshire
Unified District of the 12 months
Paine Mountain
The colleges that make up the Paine Mountain Unified Workforce have been lively for numerous years – even earlier than Unified Champion Colleges had been Unified Champion Colleges. They’re beneficiant with actions exterior of Unified, together with the Regulation Enforcement Torch Run. We sit up for seeing what the Paine Mountain District will proceed to do with Unified sooner or later!
Volunteer of the 12 months
Ron Cole (Posthumous) ~ Northshire
Papa Ron was a beloved member of Northshire Particular Olympics for over 25 years. A devoted father to our Northshire athlete Tracie Cole, Ron was all the time the primary one to indicate up, and the final to depart. Any volunteer or teaching want, Ron can be the primary to supply assist. A humble and quiet man, Ron may flip essentially the most annoyed athlete into the happiest particular person simply by one easy joke. We sadly misplaced our beloved Papa Ron simply previous to our 2019 WInter Video games. How a lot now we have missed his presence, his limitless help, beaming smile, his all the time having the final giggle. Right here’s to you Ron!
Unified Milestone of the 12 months
Joe McCoy ~ Burr & Burton Academy
First Varsity Letter Awarded by way of a Unified Champion Colleges Program
As a scholar, Joe, coached the primary unified basketball crew in Burr and Burton Academy’s athletic historical past. Final summer season, Joe approached Northshire Program Coordinator, Don Benasich, to inquire about forming a Unified Basketball Workforce at Burr & Burton. Joe offered his imaginative and prescient with such confidence, poise, willpower and compassion there was little question this system can be successful. Joe’s willpower was evident; his ardour to create an all-inclusive alternative for college students with disabilities was pushed by his ardour for equity. Joe’s management led to the primary ever varsity letter awarded to college students with disabilities.
