Special Olympics Arkansas Announces 2025 Award Recipients
Special Olympics Arkansas awards are given to those athletes, programs, schools, volunteers, and coaches that exhibit the mission of our program and step up to advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. Award recipients were announced during 2025 Special Olympics Arkansas Honored Guest Reception on May 22nd at Harding University.
2025 Special Olympics Arkansas Award Recipients
Volunteer of the Year
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. Shelley is a recent addition to Special Olympics Arkansas, but no stranger to Special Olympics. She goes above and beyond to provide experiences for athletes in her community and in Area 2. Allyson leads our statewide ASL Interpreters program to provide interpreting services to our deaf and hearing-impaired athletes, coaches, and families.
Area 2: Shelley Williams
(not pictured) Area 5: Allyson Caruthers
School of the Year
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. Cedar Ridge School District has increased their Special Olympics programming including Unified Sports with their district. They even competed at Special Olympics Arkansas AAA Unified Basketball Finals in which they came in first place!
Area 16: Cedar Ridge School District
Unified Champion Schools® School of the Year
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. Prairie Grove High School has embraced the pillars of UCS Schools by attending statewide competitions, participating in trainings and practices for upcoming events, and hosting a Polar Plunge in their community.
Area 3: Prairie Grove High School
Program of the Year
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. Ouachita Enrichment Center is leading the way in encouraging their athletes to compete at the best of their ability while maintaining sportsmanship to teams around them.
(not pictured) Area 15: Ouachita Enrichment Center
Family of the Year
Family members are not only the biggest fans of the athletes but also serve in many key roles with the organization as coaches, volunteers, and fundraising committee members. The Dyer Family has participated with Special Olympics Arkansas in many different roles. Notably, Jeff has emceed many events including Polar Plunge, and the awards stand at Summer Games and Robin is the Healthy Athletes Fun Fitness Clinical Director. She provides inclusive health opportunities for athletes at multiple statewide events.
Area 10: The Dyer Family
2025 Special Olympics Arkansas Award Recipients
Volunteer of the Year
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. Shelley is a recent addition to Special Olympics Arkansas, but no stranger to Special Olympics. She goes above and beyond to provide experiences for athletes in her community and in Area 2. Allyson leads our statewide ASL Interpreters program to provide interpreting services to our deaf and hearing-impaired athletes, coaches, and families.
Area 2: Shelley Williams
(not pictured) Area 5: Allyson Caruthers
School of the Year
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. Cedar Ridge School District has increased their Special Olympics programming including Unified Sports with their district. They even competed at Special Olympics Arkansas AAA Unified Basketball Finals in which they came in first place!
Area 16: Cedar Ridge School District
Unified Champion Schools® School of the Year
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. Prairie Grove High School has embraced the pillars of UCS Schools by attending statewide competitions, participating in trainings and practices for upcoming events, and hosting a Polar Plunge in their community.
Area 3: Prairie Grove High School
Program of the Year
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. Ouachita Enrichment Center is leading the way in encouraging their athletes to compete at the best of their ability while maintaining sportsmanship to teams around them.
(not pictured) Area 15: Ouachita Enrichment Center
Family of the Year
Family members are not only the biggest fans of the athletes but also serve in many key roles with the organization as coaches, volunteers, and fundraising committee members. The Dyer Family has participated with Special Olympics Arkansas in many different roles. Notably, Jeff has emceed many events including Polar Plunge, and the awards stand at Summer Games and Robin is the Healthy Athletes Fun Fitness Clinical Director. She provides inclusive health opportunities for athletes at multiple statewide events.
Area 10: The Dyer Family
Volunteer of the Year:
Shelley Williams-Area 2
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School of the Year: Cedar Ridge School District-Area 16
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UCS School of the Year: Prairie Grove High School-Area 3
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Family of the Year: The Dyer Family-Area 10
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Coach of the Year
Special Olympics coaches play an indispensable role in the success of our sports program. Coaches give athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage, and capacity to grow and improve. Larry McDaniel is a coach at Hot Springs High School in Area 10 and holds his athletes to the same standards of athletes without intellectual disabilities.
Area 10: Larry McDaniel
Athlete Wellness
People with intellectual disabilities often experience health disparities due to lack of training and education for health professionals. The athlete wellness award is given to the athlete or program that is a proponent of health for themselves and others. The athletes from C.B. King participate in Fitness Challenges and are Fitness Captains and Health Messengers. They advocate for inclusive health for themselves and other athletes around the state.
Area 12: C.B. King
Athlete Excellence
The athlete excellence award names an athlete that develops physical fitness, demonstrates courage, experiences joy, and participates in spreading inclusion. Alex Davis is an athlete, athlete leader, coach, Health Messenger, Fitness Captain, and participates on the Special Olympics Arkansas Area 3 Athlete Input Council. In addition, he attended 2025 Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day in which he advocated for people with intellectual disabilities in Washington D.C.
Area 3: Alex Davis
40 Years of Excellence
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. Sally Paine has had many roles within Special Olympics Arkansas including Area 6 Area Director, coach, and managing the volunteer tent at Summer Games.
Area 6: Sally Paine
Special Olympics coaches play an indispensable role in the success of our sports program. Coaches give athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage, and capacity to grow and improve. Larry McDaniel is a coach at Hot Springs High School in Area 10 and holds his athletes to the same standards of athletes without intellectual disabilities.
Area 10: Larry McDaniel
Athlete Wellness
People with intellectual disabilities often experience health disparities due to lack of training and education for health professionals. The athlete wellness award is given to the athlete or program that is a proponent of health for themselves and others. The athletes from C.B. King participate in Fitness Challenges and are Fitness Captains and Health Messengers. They advocate for inclusive health for themselves and other athletes around the state.
Area 12: C.B. King
Athlete Excellence
The athlete excellence award names an athlete that develops physical fitness, demonstrates courage, experiences joy, and participates in spreading inclusion. Alex Davis is an athlete, athlete leader, coach, Health Messenger, Fitness Captain, and participates on the Special Olympics Arkansas Area 3 Athlete Input Council. In addition, he attended 2025 Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day in which he advocated for people with intellectual disabilities in Washington D.C.
Area 3: Alex Davis
40 Years of Excellence
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. Sally Paine has had many roles within Special Olympics Arkansas including Area 6 Area Director, coach, and managing the volunteer tent at Summer Games.
Area 6: Sally Paine
Coach of the Year: Larry McDaniel-Area 10
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Athlete Wellness: C.B.King-Area 12
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Athlete Excellence: Alex Davis-Area 3
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40 Years of Excellence: Sally Paine-Area 6
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Published May 2025
