Michelle Swenson is a hard working high school math teacher with a heart full of 300 students. Swenson first became involved with Special Olympics in the fall of 2013 when Orono created its first flag football team. According to St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, in July 1968 the first Special Olympics was held at Chicago’s Soldier Field where kids with disabilities got together to compete in sports like soccer, football, etc.

This summer, “Swen”, the nickname students gave her, was nominated by Hank Seward for the 30th Special Olympics Minnesota Distinguished Service Award.

That title may be a mouth full but many students refer to it as the volunteer of the year award which shows her dedication inside and outside of Orono.

According to Encyclopedia of Science, three percent of the population has a disability leaving kids feeling they don’t belong. The unified program gives kids the opportunity to socialize with upperclassmen and be included in activities like Homecoming.

Junior Kira Reymann has been on the unified team since seventh grade. Since then, she said when has felt more welcomed and loved by people in the halls, giving her the confidence to even speak in front of college students and at the Special Olympics awards.

“Swen gave me a rose from the homecoming group before my speech saying good luck and that they missed me. That is a memory that I will never forget.” Reymann said.

Senior Megan Geelan, secretary of unified club, said, “She is always there, and without her our club would be so disorganized. She provides the structure. It’s a student led club but she does a lot more behind the scenes making sure everything fall into place.”

Swenson does not like getting recognition for her award because she believes “it belongs to the students and staff and the parents that have always supported us.” Today the trophy is kept behind picture frames her family and unified club friends to keep the focus around the ones that keep the club active.