SAHS students advocate for inclusion, funding for Special Olympics

Joining a club at Stillwater Area High School has been life-changing for students Audrey Coleman and Rylynn Zanon. As members of the Ponies TRUST Club (which stands for True Respect Unifies Together) the pair have experienced the power of inclusion, and its ability to bring people together, promote unity and build confidence and leadership skills for students of all abilities. They’ve become strong advocates for inclusion in their school community and more recently, at a national level. 

Earlier this week the pair, along with SAHS physical education teacher Paula Harrison, had the opportunity to testify before Congress as part of Capitol Hill Day with the Special Olympics organization. This annual event is an opportunity for Special Olympics advocates to share how federal funding supports their programming. Rylynn, Audrey, and Paula shared their stories about participating in the Ponies TRUST Club, as well as the Unified physical education class at the high school. They also shared personal testimonies of how the Unified movement has changed their lives and the Stillwater community. Rylynn and Audrey were the only two students from Minnesota to participate in the virtual event, which brought them face to face with congressional leaders.