|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Palmer Trinity recently partnered with Special Olympics Florida to host the 3rd Annual Unified Strides Track Meet—an inspiring celebration of inclusion, athleticism and community. What began three years ago as a heartfelt initiative by alumna Dani Perez-Cartaya ’24 has grown into one of the most meaningful events on our campus. Perez-Cartaya envisioned Unified Strides as a way to promote inclusion and create opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to compete, connect and be celebrated.
From its humble beginnings with fewer than 100 athletes and volunteers, the event has expanded to welcome more than 300 athletes, student volunteers, families, faculty and fans this year. The energy on the track was contagious as athletes competed in races and field events, cheered one another on, and demonstrated the true spirit of sportsmanship. Palmer Trinity students volunteered as running buddies, event coordinators, timers and encouragers—helping to ensure that every athlete felt supported and celebrated.
“With participation doubling and the race earning recognition at the state level, the Palmer Trinity Unified Strides Invitational has become a meaningful model of inclusive community engagement,” shared Terence Wimbley, Senior Manager for Sports Training and Competition at Special Olympics Florida. “The partnership between Special Olympics and Palmer Trinity demonstrates what’s possible when inclusion is intentional, and it’s inspiring other private schools to explore how they can create similarly impactful opportunities.”
“Unified Strides is more than a track meet; it reflects our commitment to empathy, leadership and service,” shared Patrick Roberts. “We are deeply grateful to Special Olympics Florida for their partnership and for the opportunity to stand together in advancing a world where every individual is valued and empowered.”
As Unified Strides continues to grow, Palmer Trinity remains committed to expanding opportunities that uplift every individual and strengthen our culture of inclusion.
About Palmer Trinity School:
Palmer Trinity School—a coeducational, Episcopal day school—is dedicated to promoting academic excellence that integrates knowledge, compassion, global citizenship, and social responsibility. Providing a supportive environment, Palmer Trinity School serves students from a broad range of socio-economic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds in grades 6-12. For more information about the school, visit www.palmertrinity.org. To follow Palmer Trinity School on Facebook, click here.
