JEFERSON CITY, Mo – Ste. Genevieve High School has once again been recognized as a National Banner Unified Champion School by Special Olympics North America for its continued commitment to inclusion. The Dragons renewed their National Banner status by meeting 10 standards of excellence focused on Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole-school engagement.
Since first receiving National Banner recognition in 2022, Ste. Genevieve High School has continued to expand its Unified Champion School program and strengthen a culture where students with and without intellectual disabilities learn, compete, lead, and celebrate together.
“I am so excited and incredibly proud to celebrate the renewal of our status as a National Unified Champion School!” said Jessica Fallert, teacher and Unified Champion Schools liaison for Ste. Genevieve. “This recognition is such a wonderful reflection of the commitment our students, staff, and administration have made to creating a school community where inclusion, acceptance, friendship, and belonging are celebrated every single day.”
The Dragons have expanded their Unified Sports offerings since their original recognition. In 2025, Ste. Genevieve added Unified Bowling to its long-standing Unified Track and Unified Basketball programs. The addition of bowling has increased participation and provided an indoor athletic opportunity for students who may not be able to participate in outdoor sports due to medical needs or heat.
Ste. Genevieve also continues to host its annual Unified Track Meet, welcoming schools from throughout the region. The event is supported by the school’s FRIENDS Club, Student Council, and track team, who work together to organize the event and create a welcoming experience for athletes, partners, and coaches.
FRIENDS stands for Fight for you, Respect you, Include you, Encourage you, Need you, Deserve you, and Stand by you. The organization remains a central part of the school’s commitment to inclusion.
Since 2022, FRIENDS has expanded to include a middle school club. The high school club meets monthly, while the middle school club meets weekly. Both groups also participate in inclusive field trips throughout the community, giving students opportunities to build relationships and experience inclusion beyond the classroom.
Students with and without intellectual disabilities also take on meaningful leadership roles throughout the school. Student Council includes students with intellectual disabilities as full members and helps promote Unified Sports, organize fundraisers, volunteer at Unified Track events, and incorporate inclusion into school-wide activities.
The school’s Dragon Fuel coffee shop provides students with intellectual disabilities opportunities to gain real-world work experience while interacting with students and staff throughout the school.
Ste. Genevieve continues to make inclusion visible through inclusive pep rallies, “Fans in the Stands,” Spread the Word campaigns, senior banners, and other whole-school activities. In 2026, the school expanded its Spread the Word campaign to include middle school students, allowing students across multiple buildings to take the pledge to promote inclusion.
The district also hosts the annual All Together Art Show, an inclusive art exhibition featuring artwork from schools and organizations throughout the community. The event celebrates artists with and without intellectual disabilities and brings the community together around inclusion.
“We are truly blessed to be part of a school that continues to support and promote inclusion day in and day out,” Fallert said. “We are super pumped for this honor.”
Ste. Genevieve High School’s renewed National Banner recognition reflects the continued commitment of its students, staff, families, district, and community to creating a school where every student belongs. The Dragons have demonstrated that inclusion is more than a program—it is part of the school’s culture and a tradition that continues to grow.
For more information about Special Olympics Missouri’s Unified Champion Schools program, visit somo.org/ucs.