![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
Green Hope Unified Track Runs Into 2022 Special Olympics
Laura Bunn
The Unified Track team competed at Willow Spring High School, earning their spot at the national competition. Follow the team’s journey by following @ghunifiedtrack on Instagram.
May 27, 2022
Since 1968, the Special Olympics program has provided opportunities for students with special needs across the U.S. and the Caribbean to get involved in athletic competitions. From surfing to powerlifting, special education students have a wide range of sports to partake in at the annual event.
For the first time, Green Hope’s Unified Track and Field team, a team consisting of five special education students and four general education students, is making its way to Orlando, Florida on June 5 for the week-long competition. All of the students placed in both county and state-wide competitions early in the season, earning their spot in the USA Games in Florida.
Ms. Laura Bunn, an eighth year Special Education teacher at Green Hope and the team’s head coach, has been working hard with these students to best prepare them for the different activities they will be tasked with.
In an interview with the Green Hope Falcon, Ms. Bunn explained what the average Unified Track and Field practice looks like.
“A typical practice day usually includes practicing field events such as baton passing and of course running patterns like being sure to stay in your lane the entire time,” stated Ms. Bunn.
Ms. Bunn also shared what she’s most excited about for the USA games.
“I’m most looking forward to representing North Carolina as the first Unified Track and Field team to go to the USA Games, but I’m also really excited to see our students in a different setting. I only ever see them at school, but in Orlando, I’ll get to be with them 24/7,” added Ms. Bunn.
Lucas Mullins, one of the sophomore students on the team, provided his insight on what Special Olympics means to him as someone who advocates for inclusivity within schools.
“My favorite part about being on the team is the ability to be inclusive of all types of students and ultimately share these experiences with them as well. I also enjoy being able to get closer with everyone else,” Mullins said.
Anthony Santo and Ramin Mukhta, two of Ms. Bunn’s students who are also participating in the USA Games, explained what they’re looking most forward to.
“We’re excited to ride a private jet and go to Orlando, Florida,” stated Santo and Mukhta.
Both Santo and Mukhta are competing in the 400 meter run as well as the long jump in June.
Jillian Orlando, a junior on the Unified Track and Field team, also spoke about her experiences on the team. She explained how competing in Special Olympics is more than just a partnership between a general education student and a special education student.
“At a school like Green Hope where students are really focused on GPA, I think it’s important that opportunities like Unified Track exist. I’ve always wanted to work with students who have special needs, but I never got the chance to until I joined Unified Track,” stated Jillian.
This story was originally published on The Green Hope Falcon on May 23, 2022.
