IL HR1236

Illinois House of Representatives congratulates Pontiac Township High School (PTHS) for receiving national recognition from Special Olympics North America and ESPN for inclusive sports and activities programming.

PTHS is one of four Illinois schools out of more than 400 participating in Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools to receive national banner recognition.

PTHS unified sports program includes Unified Soccer, Unified Basketball, Unified Bass Fishing, and Special Olympics Track and Field, along with community engagement events like "Fish for Respect" and "Run for Respect 5K."

The program began with Peers in Action in 1996 and joined Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools in 2012, meeting ten strict criteria in youth engagement, unified sports, and whole-school involvement.

House encourages PTHS to continue efforts toward inclusion and holds the school as an example for other schools to follow.