Feature Stories

Twenty-five years ago, Officer Thomas Day met Evan Miller, now a Special Olympics Forsyth County athlete, in the halls of Clemmons Elementary School in Winston-Salem, NC. In May 2021, they reunited … [Read more...] about The Miles in Between

In 2016, high school senior Annika Knott performed with her dance studio at the Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) Summer Games Opening Ceremony. From August 2020 to April 2021, as a graduate … [Read more...] about Annika Talks Health

In the classic children’s game of “Simon Says,” one player is designated as the leader, the others as the followers. Correctly following the directions only issued after the statement, “Simon Says,” … [Read more...] about Sheriff Says

“My name is William Christopher Gandy and I am from Union Grove. I participate in Special Olympics Iredell County and I am a Global Messenger and an athlete leadership leader for Special Olympics … [Read more...] about Gandy’s Gift of Gab

“Thank you for Partner Up.” Special Olympics Forsyth County athlete Lydia Leibee recently moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania, where she was an active participant in Special Olympics. Due to … [Read more...] about She’s Better When She’s Dancing

“Not only are we law enforcement officers, but we are human beings as well and we are out here for our fellow human beings. We are going to do whatever we can to assist them in life, and if that’s … [Read more...] about It’s Powerful Y’all

The idea of leaping through the air or balancing on a beam can seem intimidating to some, but for Special Olympics Mecklenburg County athlete Lexi Stern, 23, a fearless gymnast is what she has always … [Read more...] about She Sticks the Landing

Underneath the shadow of a towering basketball hoop, players narrow in on the 10-inch diameter of the hoop, separating them from a miss and a goal. Special Olympics Union County athlete Micah … [Read more...] about The Bigger the Goal

There is great camaraderie in a high school classroom, a sense of community intensified through committed instructors, inclusive classmates and, inherently, through sports. Special Olympics Unified … [Read more...] about An Allegiance to Inclusion

Without even an exchange of words, Laura Hayward’s soul can be heard singing. A contagious smile and a kindhearted demeanor are but two of the complimentary components that define this Special … [Read more...] about Mind, Body and No-Bake Desserts