Thornton Academy in Saco has been recognized as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, and is one of five schools in Maine to hold this distinction.

To qualify to be a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, a school must meet 10 national standards of excellence. To meet these standards, schools must offer Special Olympic Unified Sports where students with and without disabilities train and compete as teammates. They also must have inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement activities that promote social inclusion.

The achievement was celebrated on Friday with an assembly at the school’s Linnell Gymnasium. The event began with students cheering as unified athletes entered the gymnasium through an archway while “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor played. Students and faculty gave speeches and the assembly ended with unified athletes doing “The Cha-Cha Slide” dance.

Student Brooke Helgesen, president of Best Buddies, a club that builds one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, has also been active with the unified basketball and bocce teams. She said her friends with disabilities have taught her resilience, compassion, and dedication, and how to be a better person both on and off the court. Brooke said she has been fortunate to be able to spend time with happy, funny, honest and kind people.

“Some of the students we have class with here at TA, play sports with, and have lunch with, may have different abilities, but we are all teenagers going to the same school, and we have the same interests,” she said. Brooke’s Best Buddy, Sami Woodcock, said she likes dancing with the friends she’s made through Unified Sports, and being part of the program has made her more independent.

We’re so proud of you Thornton! Keep up the great work!