Washington, D.C. — Aug. 15, 2024 — Special Olympics, Inc. (“Special Olympics”) is proud to welcome the 2024 – 2026 class of U.S. Youth Ambassadors (“Youth Ambassadors”). For the next two years, the 15 youth leaders with and without intellectual disabilities will serve as advocates, sharing stories, and demonstrating the values of inclusive youth leadership. They join the previous class, totaling 29 Youth Ambassadors nationwide. The leaders are strong representatives for Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® programming—a strategy creating sports, leadership, and whole school engagement opportunities. The result is a school environment that promotes inclusion and respect for all.
The diverse group of like-minded high school and college students are from Michigan, Utah, New York, North Carolina, Hawaii, Florida, and Massachusetts. During their two-year tenure, the Youth Ambassadors will engage in speaking and advocating activities, including participating in local and national Special Olympics events, attending meetings with community and education leaders, and others. They participate in half a dozen sports and hold various leadership positions at their schools, including Unified Club Co-Presidents, Special Olympics State Youth Activation Council Presidents, and Co-Captains of Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams.
“We are eager to welcome our sixth class of U.S. Youth Ambassadors. Our young people have something to say, and this program is designed to amplify their voices and insights in advocating for achieving long-term societal goals for acceptance of those with differences. Special Olympics will continue to provide opportunities for these motivated changemakers to mobilize as they lead their schools, communities, and workplaces toward a more equitable and accepting world.”
Learn more about U.S. Youth Ambassadors here. For more information about Unified Champion Schools® programming, please visit GenerationUnified.org.