January 2023 Newsletter
Athlete Leadership Conference Recap
The 2022 Athlete Leadership Conference and Unified Youth Summit were held December 3rd and 4th in Des Moines. 50+ Global Messengers and 20+ unified pairs from across Iowa attended. We got to hear from Laura Vanderberg and four members of the Iowa State Basketball team. It was a great weekend spent learning leadership skills, practicing teambuilding techniques, and spreading the message of inclusion! 
Winter Games
Join us in Dubuque for the Winter Games on January 9 and 10. The Games will feature athletes competing in snowshoeing, skiing, and ice skating events. Snowshoeing events will take place at Camp Albrecht Acres, and the skiing events will be at Sundown Mountain. Figure skating and speed skating competitions will be held at the Dubuque Ice Arena.
Special Olympics National Unified Champion School Banner Presented to Three Iowa Schools
Special Olympics National Unified Champion School Banners have been awarded to three Iowa Schools: Goodrell Middle School, Harlan Elementary School and Spencer High School. The recognition came after the schools met the 10 standards of excellence that focus on Special Olympics Unified Sports® with focus on Special Olympics Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement. These three schools were among 150 schools that were awarded this year. Spencer High School was also recognized as an Honor Roll School for going above and beyond the 10 standards of excellence. Pictured are Harlan Elementary School and Spencer High School. Goodrell Middle School with Des Moines Public Schools will be presented with their banner at a later date. 
Special Olympics Iowa Hall of Fame Induction
Special Olympics Iowa inducted 9 individuals into the Hall of Fame on December 15th.

The Hall of Fame class includes Bobby Johnson (Waterloo), Deb Eldred (West Des Moines), Jody Sheriff (Greenfield), Joe and Eileen Wilson (Cedar Falls), Kim Lively (Ames), Randy Spurr (Norwalk), Ron Miller (Muscatine), and Suzie Moorman (Corydon).
Join us for basketball season!
Basketball Skills Competitions and Regional Basketball Tournaments will take place across the state in January and February. We are still looking for volunteers to help at many of these events. Click the button below to see a list of locations and dates, and to sign-up!

New Board members

This Month Special Olympics Iowa welcomes two new board members to the Board of Directors. The Special Olympics Iowa Board of Directors is made up of over 20 volunteer members, including two athlete representatives.
Dana Uhlenhopp

Uhlenhopp, from Alison, Iowa, works as the Chief Banking Officer with Lincoln Savings Bank. He has volunteered for Special Olympics Iowa at many events, including track and field, bowling, and summer games. Uhlenhopp has a niece with down syndrome, which he says is a big reason why he wants to get more involved with Special Olympics Iowa. Community involvement is important to Uhlenhopp as he is a long-time member of the Allison Lions Club and Commercial Club, serves as Council Member for St. James Lutheran Church, and is a member of the Community Bankers of Iowa board, along with several other clubs.
Michael Baca

Baca is from Iowa City, Iowa. He works as an Administrator for both the Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center as well as the Center for Disabilities and Development. He joins the board with previous volunteer experience with Special Olympics. Baca has served as a basketball mentor for Special Olympics New Mexico and as a Unified Sports Day volunteer for Special Olympics Iowa. Baca serves on several other committees and councils, including the Pediatric Disaster workgroup, UIHC Hospital Operations Council, and Fire and Life Safety Workgroup, among others.
Young athletes at Valley Community Center

Special Olympics Iowa is hosting a series of four Young Athletes events from 9:00-11:30am at Valley Community Center in West Des Moines! In these four sessions we will work on different sport skills through fun and interactive stations. We will meet children at their skill and ability level and experience the joy through sports!



               
  • January 5, 2023
  • February 2, 2023
  • March 2, 2023
  • April 6, 2023 
Coaches Corner
Registration Forms Available Online

Registration forms for one-day programs and sports competitions are available online! Go to the Participation Forms page on our website to view registration forms for upcoming SOIA events.
Event Calendar

Visit our online calendar for event details!

January
9 & 10 - Winter Games
14 - South Central Basketball Skills
19 – Southwest Area Basketball Skills
19 – West Central Area Basketball Skills
21- East Area Basketball Skills
21 - East Regional Basketball Tournament
24- North Area Basketball Skills
28 - Cornell Unified Sports Day
28 - Northwest Area Basketball Skills
28 - Southeast Area Basketball Skills

February
3 - Hills and Dales Motor Activity Training Program
4 - Northeast Area Basketball Skills
4 - West Central Regional Basketball Tournament
4 - West Regional Basketball Tournament
9 - North Central Area Basketball Skills
10 - Council Bluffs Young Athlete Play Day
10-Central Region Basketball Skills
11 - East Central Area Basketball Skills
11 - East Central Regional Basketball Tournament
11 - Wartburg Unified Sports Day
14 - William Penn Unified Sports Day
16 - North Area Young Athletes Play Day
24 - River Hills Young Athletes Play Day

February 27 - March 3 - #InclusionWeek

Upcoming State Competition Dates
Winter Games - January 9 & 10