Event Snapshot: Project Unify

Unifying Madison High School

By: Adrianna Hanzak

In July of 1968, the United States and Canada took part in an event that would impact countries across the world. That year the Kennedy Foundation and the Chicago Park District acted in a joint venture to put together the first summer Special Olympics. The organizations gave those with intellectual disabilities a chance to shine and gain inspiration and hope, and inspired the start of Project Unify in schools every where.

It was in 2014-2015 that senior, at the time, Haley Azbill had a vision. Haley strove to help out, working with the MH unit at her high school; helping with Camp Sue Osborne, a camp dedicated to providing the individuals with special needs in Lake and Geauga county with everyday camping experiences; and was looking forward to pursuing a future career working with those she spends so much time with. In spite of all the great things she was dedicating herself to, she wanted to do more, which is when the idea of participating in Project Unify came to light.

Project Unify is based on the foundation of diversity, different individuals valuing each other regardless of skin, intellect, talents, or years. This helped provide a great way for teachers to get involved with the students, parents to engage, and the student body to join together and become more of a whole while showing support for their peers, impacting them greatly. Haley proposed the idea and took control. She organized the publicity of getting the word of the event out there and also the strategies to raise the funds, through “Go Fund Me”, spaghetti dinners held at the local Wagon Wheel, and student admission fees to assemblies held at school. All of the funds she raised went as a donation towards the Special Olympics, the fees needed to make shirts and purchase awards that are given at the end of the event.

The student assemblies gave the students with special needs an opportunity to participate in sporting events. In the 2014 school year, Haley had organized a volleyball game in which Fox 8 News had come to support. By 2015 Jessica McPeek took over Haley’s position her senior year after Haley had graduated and held a basketball game to get them involved once more. Now, during the 2016-2017 school year, Brittany Azbill, Haley’s younger sister, took on the event, organizing another basketball game in which Fox 8 News is attending for the second time since the start of the school’s participation.

This year, just like the years before it, the student body supports the event, purchasing t-shirts and admission tickets, while the varsity players use the buddy system, pairing with the special ed athletes, getting more involved and helping out. In honor of the event, many special guests are invited, including the parents, the superintendent, and the Board of Education. While everyone gets excited for game day, the star athletes put in 2-3 days of practice before the big game to prepare and are provided with lunch after the big action packed game along with the special guests. While the big game helps the special ed students feel involved, it also brings the student body together as one, allowing them to show support for one another creating a unified school.