Governor Mifflin High School students, faculty, and administration gathered in the Governor Mifflin High School Auditorium on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 for an impromptu meeting to announce an important milestone.
On Tuesday, September 14, 2026 was officially designated by Special Olympics North America as a Unified Champion School. Governor Mifflin High School was one of four Pennsylvania schools to earn the title for 2026 and will hold the title until 2030.
A Special Olympics Unified Champion School has an inclusive school climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all members of the student body and staff. A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.
The primary activities within these standards include: Special Olympics Unified Sports® (where students with and without disabilities train and compete as teammates), Inclusive Youth Leadership and Whole-School Engagement. Banner Unified Champion Schools should also be able to demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.
The expectation of this recognition is that the 10 standards are continuously being met, year after year. To ensure this sustainability, schools reapply for banner status every 4 years.
Governor Mifflin High School first began their journey with inclusive programming four years ago with their first Unified Sport, Unified Bocce. Today, Governor Mifflin High School offers a wide array of Unified sports and activities, including strength and conditioning, bocce, track and field, esports, and a leadership club known as Unified Mustangs. Additionally, students are invited to participate in events throughout the school year, such as Unified camping trips, conferences, and engagement opportunities throughout the district and local community to further their mission and encourage others to choose to include.
“Our Unified program began with just eight students. Today, we have 118 students who are active in Unified Sports, clubs, and activities,” said Traci Huddleson, Associate Director of Student Activities.
Although these 118 students may be actively leading the charge when it comes to inclusion among their peers, district officials say that their work reverberates throughout the school community, and the district as a whole, encouraging all students, staff, and the broader community to connect with each other and include those of different backgrounds and abilities.
“Above all, we want our students to leave our halls as good, kind people,” said Governor Mifflin High School Principal TJ Miller, “when our students reflect on their high school career, we want them to recall their classmates and say ‘he was a good athlete, and a good person; she was a great student and kind to her peers.’”