Carroll College’s Special Olympics Club is celebrating another remarkable national achievement after earning second place overall in the nation and first place in the Western Division during this year’s Unified College Championship Week, a weeklong competition featuring 35 colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada.
In addition to their top national finish, Carroll students were nominated in every major award category and captured top honors in the Collaboration category for a joint inclusion event with MSU.
The accomplishment adds to an already impressive legacy of inclusion at Carroll. Thanks to the work of the student-led Special Olympics Club, Carroll is recognized as a Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School, one of the organization’s highest honors and a distinction held by only a select number of colleges nationwide. Carroll is currently the only college in Montana to hold this designation, with the National Banner proudly displayed in the college’s P.E. Center alongside Carroll’s championship athletic banners.
Hosted by Special Olympics, Unified College Championship Week challenges campuses to create meaningful opportunities for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together, build friendships, and foster more inclusive communities. Schools compete regardless of enrollment size, meaning Carroll’s students were matched directly against major Division I institutions with student populations of 20,000 to 50,000.
Throughout the year, Carroll’s Special Olympics Club partners with local athletes as unified teammates in basketball, bowling, soccer, and track and field, and more, while also hosting campus events that promote connection, belonging, and lasting friendships. The entirely student-run organization is uniquely led by an executive board that includes three Special Olympics athletes, ensuring inclusion remains central to every activity and relationship. Here is a recent MontanaSports news story on the local Special Olympics team, Helena Halos: Local Program of the Year-winning Helena Halos embody spirit of Special Olympics.
Since 2021, Carroll’s Special Olympics Club has placed in both the national and western division standings during Unified College Championship Week, reflecting a sustained commitment to building a campus where every individual is valued and empowered.
“Many of the schools we competed against have student populations between 20,000 and 50,000, including University of Nebraska Lincoln, University of Wisconsin, University of San Diego, University of Florida, and many more! For Carroll, this is an amazing accomplishment because although we may be small compared to the other schools we competed against, we have a huge commitment to inclusion.” ~ Ella Hubach, Carroll College Special Olympics Club Co-President '25-'26
The college extends its gratitude to Carroll’s Special Olympics Club for making a lasting difference and for continuing to help make Carroll a more inclusive community for all.
To see more of their events, competitions, and impact throughout the year, follow the Carroll Special Olympics Club on Instagram, www.instagram.com/carrollspecialolympics.
