CM becomes a Unified Champion school

The Center Moriches School District has recently been recognized with a national banner as a Unified Champion School.

Special Olympics New York president and CEO Stacey Hengsterman announced a total of nine New York high schools earned national banner recognition from Special Olympics North America.

“This distinction marks the highest level of achievement for Unified Champion Schools in the country, recognizing excellence and leadership in creating inclusive school communities,” reads a New York Special Olympics press release.

The nine New York Unified Champion Schools earning this prestigious honor are the following: Broadalbin-Perth High School, Scotia Glenville High School, Patchogue-Medford High School, Cattaraugus Little Valley High School, Center Moriches High School, The Wheatley School, Shaker High School, Lake George Jr./Sr. High School, and Rondout Valley High School.

A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated the highest commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence. The standards were developed by a panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community nationally. The primary activities within these standards include Special Olympics Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement.

To achieve banner status, Unified Champion Schools must also demonstrate that they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to continue these activities in the future. These nine new national banner schools bring New York’s statewide total to 45.

Katie Ross and LisaAnn Zlatniski, the leaders of the Unified Sports Program in the district, submitted to the Special Olympics for the honor earlier this school year.

ABOUT THE CM UNIFIED PROGRAM

Basketball is an interscholastic varsity sport that runs through April and May, bringing together 11 athletes and 15 partners in 2024 and 14 athletes and 16 partners in 2025.

The team experiences meaningful competition in a safe, inclusive environment, following Special Olympics Unified Sports standards.

The 2025 season includes 16 practices and eight games and concludes with an end-of-season All-Star game, where seniors compete while teammates cheer them on.

Unified Bowling debuted this year as a varsity sport running from February to mid-April, with 17 athletes and 16 partners. The team practices or competes five days a week, with 26 practices and eight matches throughout the season.

Unified Top Golf runs from December to February, with nine athletes and nine partners working toward personal goals.

Unified Physical Education fosters meaningful interactions through shared activities, teamwork, and mutual support. The class meets every day for 40 minutes, with 21 partners and 15 athletes engaging in sports, games, and fitness activities.

Also, for 13 consecutive years, Center Moriches students have represented the district at the Long Island Spring Special Olympics Games.

About Special Olympics New York

Special Olympics New York is one of the largest state chapters in the country, serving more than 48,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 375 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid and a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.