After several days of rain, the sun emerged just in time for more than 240 Guilford County students, who showed off their skills at the Special Olympics held at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro on Friday, April 3. From relays to softball throwing to individual races, every athlete took home a medal. Volunteers and participants all wore t-shirts that were designed by Sandra Allen, a 10th-grade OCS student in the Exceptional Children’s Department at Northeast High.

Terrance, a student at Eastern High, won gold in his age group in the softball throwing competition. A participant for several years, Terrance is no stranger to competition. “I definitely like winning,” he said with a smile. 

But more than a place for competition, the Special Olympics gives students with disabilities a place where each person is celebrated, honored and accepted. 

On March 31, Special Olympics kicked off a nationwide campaign called “Spread the Word to End the Word” which focuses on promoting ending the use of the r-
word (retard). In Guilford County Schools and throughout the country, teachers wore campaign t-shirts and handed out information in their schools to help dispel the negative stereotypes this word perpetuates.