By For the second time, the Carroll College Special Olympics Club has been named the Unified Champion School.
“This award shows the dedication, effort, and work we put into our club. It is a symbol of the unity and inclusion we promote,” said Ella Hubach, a junior from Seward, Nebraska, studying environmental science.
The Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament was held from Nov. 7-9 at the Lewis & Clark Fairgrounds.
Carroll College Special Olympics Club is proud to support these athletes.
The Saints Special Olympics club works specifically with the Helena Halos team. The Club is for young adults aged 18 to 26 years old. The Carroll College club supplies the Halos with unified partners who help compete with the athletes in events throughout the year, most recently, the Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament.
Special Olympics Montana (SOMT) is volunteer-driven and sponsor-supported. The 2024 tournament brought together approximately 700 athletes and unified partners and 300 coaches and volunteers. This event is held to give all athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents.
“We could not have achieved this without a great student body,” said Tucker Zanto, a junior from Helena majoring in Accounting and Strategic Management.
Kyle Norman was named Athlete of the Year. Kyle Norman is an 11th year Helena Halo team member.
“This award recognizes his exceptional achievements, commitment, and embodiment of the values of the Special Olympics,” said Hubach. “This award highlights his dedication, sportsmanship, advocacy, leadership, personal growth, and contribution to the Special Olympics Community.”
Gracie Gribbon was honored to be chosen to present a motivational speech at the opening ceremony.
There were many top placers for the Helena teams. The 3v3 team got third place, the Purple team got silver, and the White team got gold.
“The basketball tournament was a big success for the Helena Halos and Special Olympics Montana as a whole,” said Zanto. “The basketball community is full of kind, engaging, and supportive individuals who probably have some of the biggest hearts around.”
The Special Olympics Club is always welcoming new members to their club. Join the club today to be a part of a community of inclusion and achievements and make a difference in the lives of these incredible individuals.
To get involved, reach out to Maddie Visser at mvisser@carroll.edu.
