Hingham High School Unified Sports Program Receives National Banner Recognition From Special Olympics
Friday, October 21, 2022 – Hingham High School – It is with great honor that the Hingham Public Schools and Hingham High School Athletics announce that the Hingham High Unified Sports program has received National Banner recognition from the Special Olympics. Hingham High’s Unified Sports program has received this distinction for achieving national standards of excellence in inclusion, advocacy, and respect.
Hingham High was among only 15 schools in Massachusetts to be recognized and one of only 155 nationwide to achieve this status. Hingham High continues to receive this honor this year.
Special Olympics Unified Sports, the program being recognized at Hingham High School, brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete on the same team. Unified Sports allows all students, regardless of their athletic abilities, to experience being on a team, hang out with their friends outside of school, and gain a boost of confidence they might not always feel in the classroom.
Hingham High hosts two Unified Sports teams including Unified Track and Field and Unified Basketball. Last year, Hingham High’s Unified Basketball went undefeated last year and had the opportunity to play at TD Garden last winter as part of the Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational. Last Spring Hingham High’s Unified Track and Field team received Silver Medals at the MIAA Special Olympics Regionals and placed 7th out of 45 towns in the State Championship. Hingham High has 38 students on Unified Basketball and 35 on Unified Track.
“Both Unified teams on basketball and track are extremely close. They sit together at lunch and get together outside of school. During track and basketball seasons, teammates get together for pasta parties before games. Seeing these friendships grow has been the most rewarding for me. We now have an established group of dedicated boosters who keep us well supported for away games and assist us in all we do. The beautiful smiling faces in every Unified Sports picture says it all. Nobody has more fun than we do! Come to one of our games, you won’t be disappointed!” Joyce Eby, Unified Sports Coach, and Special Education Paraeducator.
The banner-raising ceremony will be held on Friday, October 21st prior to their home Unified Basketball game against Weymouth. Hingham High School will proudly display the banner in the gymnasium.