Special Olympics Arkansas announces 2024 award recipients
2024 School of the Year: Greene County Tech
Every year, Special Olympics Arkansas selects those within the organization that have gone above and beyond the mission within their area and around the state! On May 23, 2024, during the Honored Guest Reception, 2024 Special Olympics Arkansas award recipients were announced.
2024 Special Olympics Arkansas Award Recipients
Volunteers play a vital role within the Special Olympics community. They serve as area directors, coaches, games management, and much more! The volunteer of the year award goes to the person or persons that leads the way in creating inclusive environments for people with intellectual disabilities.
Volunteer of the Year
Area 16-Ebony Brown
Area 17-Billy Hartness
Schools that participate in Special Olympics are proven to reduce bullying, change attitudes and behaviors, and build community. They help build an environment of inclusivity for young people of all abilities. These schools drive to end the stigma around intellectual disabilities. This award recognizes schools that participate in traditional Special Olympics Arkansas programming and go above and beyond to build a community that encourages sports for all.
School of the year
Area 1-Greene County Tech
Area 17-Greenbrier High School
Unified Champion Schools offers a unique combination of effective activities that creates climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions. The UCS school of year is awarded to the school that spreads inclusion within their school and throughout their community.
Unified Champion Schools® School of the Year
Area 5-McDermott Elementary School
Program of the year is awarded to an agency or organization that embraces more than just sports on their area level. This is awarded to a group that engages in fitness programs, leadership development and both area and state level competitions year-round. The program of the year shines on and off the field.
Program of the Year
Area 14-Booneville Human Development Center
2024 Special Olympics Arkansas Award Recipients
Volunteers play a vital role within the Special Olympics community. They serve as area directors, coaches, games management, and much more! The volunteer of the year award goes to the person or persons that leads the way in creating inclusive environments for people with intellectual disabilities.
Volunteer of the Year
Area 16-Ebony Brown
Area 17-Billy Hartness
Schools that participate in Special Olympics are proven to reduce bullying, change attitudes and behaviors, and build community. They help build an environment of inclusivity for young people of all abilities. These schools drive to end the stigma around intellectual disabilities. This award recognizes schools that participate in traditional Special Olympics Arkansas programming and go above and beyond to build a community that encourages sports for all.
School of the year
Area 1-Greene County Tech
Area 17-Greenbrier High School
Unified Champion Schools offers a unique combination of effective activities that creates climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions. The UCS school of year is awarded to the school that spreads inclusion within their school and throughout their community.
Unified Champion Schools® School of the Year
Area 5-McDermott Elementary School
Program of the year is awarded to an agency or organization that embraces more than just sports on their area level. This is awarded to a group that engages in fitness programs, leadership development and both area and state level competitions year-round. The program of the year shines on and off the field.
Program of the Year
Area 14-Booneville Human Development Center
2024 Volunteer of the Year: Ebony Brown
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2024 Volunteer of the Year: Billy Hartness
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2024 School of the Year: Greenbrier High School
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2024 UCS School of the Year: McDermott Elementary School
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2024 Program of the Year: Booneville HDC
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Family members are not only the biggest fans of the athletes but also serve in many key roles with the organization as coaches, fundraisers and committee members. Families know that Special Olympics gives athletes the self-assurance and belief in their abilities, so that they can become an intricate part of their community whether that is at home, at school or in the workplace.
Family of the Year
Area 3-The Dyke Family
Special Olympics coaches play an indispensable role in the success of our sports program. Coaches provide the sports skills and spirit that define a true athlete. In addition, coaches are role models and character builders. Coaches give athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage, and capacity to grow and improve. The coach of the year provides encouragement and pushes athletes to their fullest potential.
Coach of the Year
Area 3-Amy Leitermann
People with intellectual disabilities often experience health disparities due to lack of training and education for health professionals. Special Olympics Arkansas provides opportunities for athletes to advocate for their own health and aid in training of health professionals. The athlete wellness award is given to the athlete that is a proponent of health for themselves and others.
Athlete Wellness
Area 17-Emily Standridge
A true Special Olympics athlete exhibits sportsmanship on and off the field, is a leader in their community, and is an advocate for other people with intellectual disabilities. The athlete excellence award names an athlete that develops physical fitness, demonstrates courage, experiences joy, and participates in spreading inclusion.
Athlete Excellence
Area 12-Sharon Johnson
A new award in 2024, the excellence award is granted to the person that has dedicated many years to providing opportunities and displaying the characteristics of a role model to athletes not only in their local program and community, but across the state.
30 Years of Excellence
Area 17-Wendy Curtis-Parks
Family of the Year
Area 3-The Dyke Family
Special Olympics coaches play an indispensable role in the success of our sports program. Coaches provide the sports skills and spirit that define a true athlete. In addition, coaches are role models and character builders. Coaches give athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage, and capacity to grow and improve. The coach of the year provides encouragement and pushes athletes to their fullest potential.
Coach of the Year
Area 3-Amy Leitermann
People with intellectual disabilities often experience health disparities due to lack of training and education for health professionals. Special Olympics Arkansas provides opportunities for athletes to advocate for their own health and aid in training of health professionals. The athlete wellness award is given to the athlete that is a proponent of health for themselves and others.
Athlete Wellness
Area 17-Emily Standridge
A true Special Olympics athlete exhibits sportsmanship on and off the field, is a leader in their community, and is an advocate for other people with intellectual disabilities. The athlete excellence award names an athlete that develops physical fitness, demonstrates courage, experiences joy, and participates in spreading inclusion.
Athlete Excellence
Area 12-Sharon Johnson
A new award in 2024, the excellence award is granted to the person that has dedicated many years to providing opportunities and displaying the characteristics of a role model to athletes not only in their local program and community, but across the state.
30 Years of Excellence
Area 17-Wendy Curtis-Parks
2024 Family of the Year: The Dyke Family
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2024 Coach of the Year: Amy Leitermann
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2024 Athlete Wellness: Emily Standridge
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2024 Athlete Excellence: Sharon Johnson
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2024 30 Years of Excellence: Wendy Curtis-Parks
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Published June 2024
