Our A+ award goes to Avon High School's Unified Club and to every special education and regular education students who worked on a great art piece for the Special Olympic Ohio 'Art of Inclusion' campaign.
Their art piece was featured on Cleveland Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s cleats when he took to the field recently against the Tennessee Titans. Mayfield is part of the NFL’s 'My Cause My Cleats' program. He always been a strong supporter of Special Olympics Ohio.
Avon High School Sports Director Eric Frombach said the school started their Unified Club three years to help special education students and regular students form meaningful relationships and have some fun. They have participated in sports like flag football and basketball. The Avon Unified Club won in Track and Field last year!
Due to COVID-19, the ability to play sports this year has been extremely limited. So, when there was an opportunity to participate in this art campaign, Frombach said they took it!
The students painted a puzzle piece representing how individually each student is different, but that they can create a masterpiece together. They added the quote: "Diversity is a fact, Inclusion is an Act!" because it represents the unified movement. The lines in the background were made by students who took the wheels off their wheelchairs and used the wheels as a paintbrush! Really creative, kids!
Art teacher Maria Petrulis, who led the art project, said every student had a hand in the art piece and it felt like “a big party.” Once the art piece was done, it was “cool” to see how proud the students were of making it.
So this A+ is for all the Avon High school students involved in this art piece and who play hard for the Unified Club. And this A+ goes to the counselors, teachers and staff who help these students shine! You all show “there is true acceptance” at Avon High School.
Submit your ideas for our NewsDepth A+ segment to newsdepth@ideastream.org for consideration.
