Special Olympics team goes to Las Vegas

On Monday, February, 13th, Airport High School’s Special Olympics team traveled to the South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa in Las Vegas to compete in bowling and just have fun!

Special Olympics is a team of special needs and non-special needs students who travel all across the country to compete in different events such as flag football, disc golf, bocce, soccer, bowling, track, softball, badminton and basketball. According to Karen Kish, a special education teacher at Airport High School, “When [Special Olympics] first started, it was very small and only included special needs students. Now, it includes a lot of people and special needs and non special needs students.”

The experience in Special Olympics is a lot like being a family. You travel together, learn together, and help each other grow and succeed. Kori Bernhagen, a sophomore at Airport High school, says,”It’s a very fun class and the kids are amazing to work with. I just love being around them and they just make my whole day better.”

“[Being in Special Olympics] has made me a happier person and it makes me work harder to help everyone see the importance of conclusion,” said Mrs. Kish.

It’s not everyday that someone from Airport High school gets the opportunity to travel across the country, so when the Special Olympics team went to Las Vegas, it was a very big deal to our school. With the help of all of the Airport High School community, the students and staff were able to raise enough money to help send them to Las Vegas.

Ms. Bernhagen said, “Not only did she get to bowl with the kids, [she] also got to help coach the kids with their bowling.”

Mrs. Kish said that ”[her] favorite part about her trip to Las Vegas was seeing all the sights Las Vegas had to offer and watching [her students] succeed.”

While in Las Vegas, the Special Olympics team participated in 4 person, team, and partner bowling. In the 4 person event, both teams won bronze. In partner bowling, Carlee Vella and Emilee Fertick won gold, Kailynne Crosland, Lucas Kirby, Davontae Brown, and Faye Hicks took 4th place, and Maddie Haag and Kori Bernhagen took 5th place. All of the students and staff at Airport are very proud of the Special Olympics team and all they have accomplished. Congratulations Special Olympics!

If you want to know more about Special Olympics, or are interested in joining the Special Olympics team, you can see Mrs, Kish in Room 418. For some pictures of the Special Olympics team on their trip in Las Vegas, you can visit Airport High School’s Facebook page or Airport High School’s instagram: eye_on_the_eagle.