Ignacio Ruiz Superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools | Official Website
Ignacio Ruiz Superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools | Official Website
It was a day of celebration at Organ Mountain High School as the institution hosted the 2025 NM Special Olympics Play Unified Basketball Game. The event included students from Las Cruces, Centennial, and Mayfield High Schools in a Unified Basketball tournament that showcased teamwork and diversity.
During the occasion, Organ Mountain High School received national recognition from ESPN. They were named New Mexico Unified Champion School (UCS) of the Year and one of the Top 50 Unified Champion Schools in the Nation. This acknowledgment highlights their commitment to fostering inclusion for students with and without disabilities in sports.
"I absolutely love everything about this game," said Coach Marie McGrath, Special Education Teacher and Special Olympics NM Advisor. "These students are getting high-fives in the hallway, and they truly feel like they’re part of high school."
Unified Sports is an initiative by Special Olympics New Mexico that pairs students with intellectual disabilities with those without on the same team. The event demonstrated these values as banners crafted by various student clubs filled the gym.
The United States Department of Education (USDE) and Special Olympics New Mexico supported this event. Unified Champion Schools promote inclusion, diversity, health, fun, and equality regardless of abilities.
Organ Mountain High School joins Las Cruces High School as a Unified Champion School for 2024-2025. This honor reflects both schools' dedication to inclusive practices in sports participation.
Mayfield High School has been recognized as a Unified Champion School since 2019 and was named an ESPN Top 5 National Banner School in 2020.
Organ Mountain's recognition underscores its dedication to creating an inclusive environment where all students are celebrated.
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