Sep. 29—ROCHESTER — Mayo High School has been recognized with the Special Olympics National Banner Award, a prestigious honor awarded to a select number of schools in the United States for their exemplary commitment to inclusion.
This recognition is bestowed upon schools that have demonstrated the highest standards of excellence in developing programs that unite students with and without intellectual disabilities.
“This award is a testament to the incredible group of students and staff who have helped build the Mayo High School Unified Program to where it is today,” said Colin Thomas, Mayo High School teacher and leader of the Mayo High School Unified team. “What started with the vision and passion of one student, Mary Laudon (MHS Class of 2019), has grown into a program that has transformed the high school experience for hundreds of Mayo students each year.”
Mayo High School is one of only five high schools in Minnesota to be recognized as part of the National Banner Class of 2025. Over the past decade, Mayo High School is also one of only 15 schools in the state to have ever received this national distinction, according to a press release.
The Unified Champion Schools program promotes social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities that equip young people with the tools and training to create climates of acceptance. The program is having a profound impact on Mayo High School’s culture.
Mayo High School’s program continues to expand through activities like Unified classes, clubs, and special events such as the annual districtwide Special Olympics Unified Bowling outing that involves all of RPS’ high schools, the Mobile Polar Plunge (which has now been adopted by all three high schools in Rochester), and just this past week, they hosted their annual Unified Homecoming Party/Dance.
In recent years, they’ve intentionally expanded their outreach by partnering with Mayo High School’s athletic teams, clubs, and other organizations to increase the number of students who can build relationships with their peers with special needs through various Unified programs.
“National banner schools are the gold standard for what inclusive education looks like,” says Demaya Walton, director of Unified Champion Schools at Special Olympics Minnesota. “These schools are showing us that when inclusion is a priority, everyone thrives.”