Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on March 17, 2026, link to article HERE.
Spring Mills High School was presented with an official banner after being named a Unified Champion Banner School by Special Olympics Unified Sports on March 13. The school celebrated with a pep rally where students played games and cheered on the other students.
Special Olympics Unified Sports Advisors Ashley Bowman and Shelby Davis organized the event. Bowman took over the advisor last year, heading up the club’s program and putting together events that include all students. When she learned that Spring Mills High School was eligible to become a Unified Champion Banner School by having inclusive sports and a club, she began the application process. She submitted it during the summer, and a few months later she heard it was accepted, making the school the third school in West Virginia to earn the distinction, joining Hedgesville and Musselman high schools.
To celebrate receiving the banner, Bowman and Davis wanted to plan a pep rally that would continue bridging the gap and bring students together. Students were wearing t-shirts for Spread the Word Month, showing their dedication to fostering inclusion for people with disabilities. They played games like musical hula hoops and basketball. Special education students played alongside everyone else, with crowds cheering for them in the stands.
“The students don’t see their differences, but they do see if someone needs some extra help,” Bowman said. “They are willing to help them when needed. Our students are kind of like celebrities. The student body raises them up and makes them feel just as special or more so.”
Bowman hopes all the students realize it was their kindness and welcoming attitude that earned the recognition. It wasn’t just because they organized some events, but because the students themselves stepped up to create an inclusive environment for everyone. She hopes they will take this as a life-long lesson to continue to include others.
“I want them to realize the impact they are having on these kids' lives,” Bowman said. “And the other way around too. They both have impact each other in such a positive way.”
Director of Unified Champion Schools and Communities Samantha Gardner for Special Olympics West Virginia traveled from Charleston to present Spring Mills High School with the banner. She hopes the school will inspire others to join the program as well, including middle and elementary schools.
“They are such a good example for other schools and what we want Unified Champion Schools to look like,” Gardner said. “Hopefully they are just one of the first of many schools to earn this banner.”