Andrew High School makes Unified Sports history…again
Batman and Robin, Bert and Ernie, Buzz, and Woody have nothing on an incredible pair of students at Victor J. Andrew High School. T-Bolt seniors Scott Oftedahl and Montrell Sippel were recently selected to represent Special Olympic Illinois at Lobby Day in Washington D.C.
It’s a known fact that Victor J. Andrew High School was among the first Illinois high schools to adopt a Unified Sports Program. Unified teams partner student-athletes with disabilities with student-athletes without disabilities to compete together in a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, and track and field.
Last week, the duo was selected to represent Special Olympics Illinois at the national level. The Director of Special Olympics Illinois nominated the pair because they consistently embody the values of leadership and inclusion.
Special Olympics Coach and Special Services teacher Nowal Shalash said, “Lobby Day will provide an incredible opportunity for face-to-face meetings with members of Congress and other elected officials.
During these meetings, Scott and Montrell will advocate for increased funding for Special Olympics Illinois and address key issues surrounding education for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Representing District 230, Andrew High School, and the entire Special Olympics Illinois organization, they will proudly amplify the voices of our community. To top it off, there’s even a chance we might visit the White House!”
This news was announced on the heels of a Special Olympics Illinois Summit where the T-Bolt pair met with the President and CEO of Special Olympics along with the entire Executive Board to discuss unified activities and all the inclusive happenings at Andrew High School.
This duo is part of the Unified Generation Committee, a group of athletes (students with disabilities) and unified partners (students without disabilities) who meet monthly with other Unified pairs across Illinois to promote inclusion, unified activities, and respect. Last spring, the pair attended a weekend-long interview with representatives from Special Olympics Illinois who collaborated with students and selected strong pairs to be on the committee. They attended various seminars, including How to be an Inclusive Leader, Digital Citizenship, Inclusion after High School, and Social Media Training. Throughout the weekend, they had plenty of socialization built in to foster stronger relationships with the other athletes and partners from across Illinois.
Shalash said she immediately thought of Oftedahl and Sippel to submit as a pair for the Unified Generation Committee. “From the get-go, Scott and Montrell created an incredible friendship and that is the foundation of their entire relationship. The two of them possess leadership qualities, and when they are together it’s just this unstoppable pair. They embody what it means to be a unified pair.”
Sippel said, “What I like best about competing is that they take everybody and you don’t have to be perfect; you rely on each other.”
“The first time I met Scott, he was such a great friend. This is my guy. This is the guy I can count on and help me out. He’s one of my bestest friends,” he added
Oftedahl said, “Montrell is a good buddy of mine. Although we met playing Unified together, we have grown quite close as teammates, school fellows, and friends. He is an awesome guy, outspoken and well-mannered. Pair this connection with both of us as confident, outspoken personalities, I think we make for a great duo.
“Being a part of a group of diverse people helps form a sense of respect for one another. Understanding others with specific needs undoubtedly helps develop compassion, a trait I believe our society can lack at times. Allowing high schoolers with special needs, who otherwise may not have had the opportunity, to compete is an incredible feeling. I have played with many teams in my life, but I cannot say any held the level of excitement to play with one another quite like the Unified team, which I attribute to the inclusive nature of the program,” Oftedahl added.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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