When Brighton High freshman Jaxson Huff heard his school earned the national unified champion banner, he celebrated alongside hundreds of classmates who packed the gym in support of inclusion.

“I like the school, everyone is together and nice,” he said.

The banner presentation was part of Brighton’s annual inclusion week, a celebration highlighting the school’s commitment to bringing students of all abilities together. Unified players and partners entered the gym beneath an inflatable Special Olympics Utah arch to loud cheers from their peers. The crowd grew quiet and respectful as pairs of unified students sang the national anthem, before it erupted in thunderous applause.

“Schools who show they can do unified sports, inclusive leadership and whole school engagement that promotes unified get a special award from ESPN and Special Olympics International,” said Special Olympics Utah Unified Champion School’s College-growth Coordinator Boston Iacobazzi. “We are super excited to present to you guys today your national banner recognition.”

Brighton is one of about 15 schools statewide to receive the honor, triple the number of five years ago. The increase, Iacobazzi said, reflects a growth in cultural shift toward inclusion and acceptance in schools.

“It’s exciting to see the growth in the past four or five years,” he said. “The growth just reflects the impact we're having in schools, and they're seeing a unified world, and what the unified movement can be.”

The assembly also included the unified players challenging the basketball teams to an exhibition game. At halftime, Team Unified led the boys 25-8. After a performance by the Salt Lake Stars dance team to “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman,” which included several unified players, Team Unified outscored the girls’ team 24-3 in the second half, securing a 49-11 win.

“We won the game, it was fun with everyone cheering,” Huff said.

While the banner presentation was reason to celebrate, the recognition represented years of effort.

 “It’s been years in the making,” said Jared Denslow, Brighton special education teacher. “This is about being unified as a school, and not seeing these kids as special, but seeing them for who they are. That's what's very humbling. We have an inclusive administration; they will do anything they can to make these kids feel part of the school. Here, you don't see special. You see kids. Everybody's unified. It brings a lot of camaraderie and kindness and makes it a very welcoming, kind place.”

Brighton’s unified culture extends beyond athletics. Since 2022, the school has hosted a unified prom after peer tutors recognized the need and organized a dance intentionally with their special education peers. Students of all abilities have served in leadership positions in student government and on the Special Olympics’ Youth Activation Committee, even meeting with Gov. Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox to advocate for inclusion.

Each year during inclusion week, students and staff pledge their commitment for inclusion. Throughout the school year, students regularly eat lunch and participate in activities together. 

 Much of the momentum comes from students as last year, Brighton graduate Aspen Johnson, along with Paige Grimshaw and Claire Merrill, launched Brighton’s unified club, which quickly drew 130 students to its group chat. 

“We set up the club to do monthly activities like making keychains and bracelets and we decorated for a lot of holidays,” she said. “We wanted to make a place where everyone feels included, a space where everyone can come, regardless of abilities, of social standings, and have fun and do fun things. I know what it's like to feel left out and it is not fun, so I cannot even imagine what some other people might be going through. I don’t want that for anyone.”

When Johnson and her peers realized Brighton met the criteria for the national banner recognition, they completed and submitted the application last March.

“I’m glad Brighton is recognized on a national level, but I’m also glad it’s a welcoming place because I have a brother with special needs,” she said. “This is my passion. I’m going into a career with special needs; they’re my friends and I want to advocate for everyone, even if they can't advocate for themselves.”

Her mother, Abby, also has supported the effort as a volunteer coach for the unified team. For her, the banner is more than an award, it represents genuine friendships.

“The best thing of all this is to witness the friendships that are made and the support and the community, seeing everyone coming together,” Abby Johnson said. “It's been neat that all of the teachers and the administration have given this opportunity for the high school students to show their true kindness. And the students have gone out of their way to make sure that everyone feels included; they’ve blown it out of the park. As a parent of a special needs child, that's been amazing to witness. I’m grateful to know he's going to have some stable friends going into high school next year and instead of worrying about his medical things, he’s now going to experience some of the normal high school life in a warm, supporting place.”