Celebrating Unified Champion Schools and Spreading the Word in New Hampshire

February 26, 2026

At Special Olympics New Hampshire, our Unified Champion Schools (UCS) are more than just programs—they are movements. These schools lead the way in creating inclusive school communities where students with and without intellectual disabilities learn, play, and grow together. Through leadership, advocacy, and action, our UCS programs are shaping a future where everyone belongs.

Honoring Our Banner Schools

This year, we are thrilled to celebrate our banner schools—schools recognized for their exceptional commitment to promoting inclusion and unity. In New Hampshire, along with previous celebrations at Newfound, Plymouth, Merrimack and Dover high schools, we recently helped Alvirne High School and Merrimack Valley High School in recognizing their innovative programming and dedication to fostering inclusive environments for all students.

And on the national stage, we are proud to highlight Winnacunnet High School, a national banner-winning school whose efforts have set a standard for inclusion across the country. These schools demonstrate how leadership, teamwork, and a commitment to inclusion can create real change both inside and outside the classroom.

Spread the Word: March Into Action

March is Spread the Word: Inclusion Month, a nationwide campaign that encourages students, schools, and communities to take a stand for inclusion and disability awareness. The campaign’s message is simple yet powerful: “Inclusion means everyone belongs.”

Unified Champion Schools banner winners are at the forefront of this movement. From participating in Unified Sports, to classroom lessons to school-wide activities, they actively engage their peers in conversations and actions that promote respect, understanding, and inclusion.  Our banner schools aren’t just participating—they are leading. By embracing the principles of Unified Champion Schools year-round, they are not only making their own communities stronger but inspiring others across New Hampshire to join the movement. During Spread the Word month and beyond, these schools show that inclusion isn’t just a one-day event—it’s a commitment, a culture, and a promise that everyone deserves to belong.

Let’s follow their lead and make every school in New Hampshire a place where every student has the chance to thrive—on the field, in the classroom, and in life.

If your school or community is ready to join in, resources are available at www.spreadtheword.global. Here, you can find downloadable materials, activity guides, and tips for how to host events, conversations, and activities that truly embody the spirit of inclusion.