Wisconsin
Awards and Recognition Program
Who do you know that brings out the best in the Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) mission?
Nominate those who deserve extra recognition for their time and commitment.
 Athletes: Consider nominating one of your teammates who has mentored you or a coach
that has gone above and beyond to help you train.
 Family Members: Whom do you owe a debt of gratitude for bringing the benefits of
Special Olympics to your family?
 Coaches and Agency Managers: After considering the members of your own local
program think outside your Agency. Perhaps someone you have met at an invitational or
competition has taught you something new.
 Project UNIFY® and Young Athlete™ sites: Who has been a leader within your own
program or within the movement that you’d like to get recognized?
We are all part of the SOWI family and taking time to say “thanks” is what keeps families close. By
nominating someone for an award, you are not only giving them a chance to attend the awards
ceremony program, you are giving them a chance to be publically thanked for all they do for you.
The 2015 SOWI Awards & Recognition Program will celebrate State award winners. The winner in
each category (plus a guest) will be treated to a dinner and reception on September 26, 2015 at the
Marriot West in the Madison area in conjunction with the Leadership Conference. In addition,
reduced-cost tickets will be available for anyone else interested in supporting and recognizing our
outstanding SOWI winners.
Categories and guidelines can be found on the next page, as well as on the SOWI website at
SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org. If you have any questions about the awards, please contact Jenn
Streator, Director of Field Services, at [email protected] or (800) 552-1324
extension 5674.
Award Categories
Male Athlete of the Year
For a Special Olympics male athlete whose involvement with the
program truly exemplifies the skill, courage, sharing, and joy of
Special Olympics participation.
Female Athlete of the Year
For a Special Olympics female athlete whose involvement with
the program truly exemplifies the skill, courage, sharing, and joy
of Special Olympics participation.
Volunteer of the Year*
For an individual whose voluntary efforts during the course of the
program year improve the quality of the Special Olympics
program.
Family of the Year*
For the Special Olympics family (requires at least one member of
the family to be a registered athlete, including Young Athletes
and Project UNIFY) that has made unique and lasting
contributions to the lives of Special Olympics athletes, local
programs, Regions and/or the Headquarters office.
Coach of the Year*
For the Special Olympics coach who best demonstrates the
ideals of the coaching profession, including: excellent teaching
skill, positive attitude, adherence to the rules of the sport, and a
commitment to the physical, social, and psychological well-being
of the athletes.
Rookie of the Year*
For an individual who has been participating or volunteering with
Special Olympics for three years or less and has had a
significant impact on their local program.
Student Leader of the Year
For any K-12 student that has demonstrated excellent inclusive
leadership skills through Project UNIFY. This student should be a
agent of change who is passionate and has helped spread
acceptance, ensured everyone feels included, demonstrated
teamwork, promoted respect, and inspired others. (This could be
awarded to a student pair that has co-led.)
Local Program of the Year*
For the Special Olympics local program who has demonstrated
the power of teamwork and whose recognition of the importance
of working together and leadership make a difference on and off
the playing field.
Organization of the Year
For the service organization, school group, club, or business
whose efforts have significantly improved the Special Olympics
athlete’s experience on a local, Regional or Statewide basis.
Lifetime Achievement Award Categories
Project UNIFY® Inclusion Award
For a school or individual who has built a school climate of
inclusion that furthermore exemplifies Project UNIFY’s goal
to activate young people in fostering respect, dignity, and
advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities through
sports and education programs.
Jerry Eilola Memorial Management Team Member Award
For a Management Team member whose volunteer efforts
improve the quality of Regional or State programs.
Mike Schulte ALPs Award
For a Special Olympics athlete who is active in a sport,
participates in athlete leadership, and is a motivated, fun,
creative and supportive SOWI athlete leader.
Roger Kasper Special Service Award
For an individual who has shown outstanding service and
commitment to our athletes and to SOWI. This is the
highest honor that can be bestowed upon a SOWI volunteer
and as such nominees should have proven long standing
commitment and support in many roles or at many levels of
the organization.
Chairman’s Award
Nominated and awarded by the Board of Directors.
Guidelines:
 Recognize achievement at the local, Regional or State
level.
 All nominations must be submitted on the SOWI
Recognition and Awards Nomination Form (this form is
available as a hardcopy and on the SOWI website) and
have no more than three pages of supporting material.
All supporting material must be submitted on 8 1/2 x 11
inch paper. Preferred form is typed. If handwritten,
writing must be neat and legible or form will be returned
to submitter.
 Only one nomination per Award Form. Please copy the
Award Nomination Form if you have more than one
nomination.
 Nominees can only be submitted for one award per
year.
 All materials become the property of Special Olympics
Wisconsin for their use in promotion of Special
Olympics.
 Nominations for Awards are to be submitted to the
SOWI Headquarters post-marked, e-mailed or submitted
via the SOWI website no later than June 1, 2015.
*Includes Agencies, Young Athlete sites and Project UNIFY schools