"Making History Thru Inclusion with Unified Track & Field" - The GIPS Cast, Ep. 058

"I see [our students] building long, lasting friendships, a sense of belonging to something very special; boosting their self confidence. Each one of my athletes and partners together, they value each other's talents and skills."


Andrea Hill has been leading the Unified Track & Field Team for seven years at Grand Island Senior High, and, well, she’s on a mission.  And she’s got the whole school and the whole GIPS district behind her.


Coach Hill has been a fierce advocate for student inclusion, empathy, and connection through the medium of Unified athletics.  In those seven years, the student athletes and student partners on the GISH Unified Track Team has broken new ground as Unified sports has grown across Nebraska.


Most notably, for the first time in school and state history, the GISH Girls Unified Track & Field Team brought home a sweep of Gold Medals in all four events at the NSAA State Meet. 


Coach Hill joins 'The GIPS Cast' to share her passion for Unified sports and where she sees the GISH Unified Track & Field Team continuing to make history. 


Because when we lean into inclusion, everyone wins. 
 

Listen to the latest episode above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

(Transcript may be found below the episode player.)

#WeAreGIPS 
 

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT:

Podcast Intro  00:00

This is Grand Island Public Schools podcast, and these are our stories. We are learners. We are educators in teaching hearts as well as minds. We are 10,000 diverse voices, and we're changing the world together, one classroom at a time. These are our stories. We are GIPS. We are GIPS. Somos, que efe ese. We are GIPS. Somos, GIPS. We are GIPS. And this is 'The GIPS Cast'!

Mitchell Roush  00:31

Welcome back to the GIPS cast, a conversation based podcast exploring the voices of Grand Island Public Schools in Nebraska. I'm your host. Mitchell Roush, the Communications Director here at GIPS, and as always, I'm grateful to bring to you new stories from all corners of our district, because here we're driven by our mission of every student every day, a success.

Mitchell Roush  01:02

When we lean into inclusion, everyone wins. If you spend more than two minutes with Andrea Hill, you'll hear that message of bold empathy loud and clear. Andrea is a past program counselor at Grand Island Senior High. She's also the coach of the Unified track and field teams for Gish and Coach Hill. Well, she's on a mission, and she's got the whole school and the whole GIPS district behind her back in the 2017, 2018 school year, the Nebraska school activities Association, otherwise known as NSAA, sanctioned unified track and field as a recognized state high school activity. Gish was among the first schools to launch a unified track and field team in connection with those efforts, and now today, seven years later, Nebraska boasts over 60 plus unified track and field teams across the state for different high schools. So cool. Now, what is unified track and field? It's a sports program where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, train and compete together on the same team. It's a form of unified sports which aims to promote inclusion and friendship through sport. Now back to Coach Hill, as she's led the movement of celebrating and providing opportunities through unified track and field, her squad has also become history makers, especially the girls team. For the first time in school history, the girls unified track and field team at Gish qualified for the girls only division at NSAA in its first year for the state track and field meet, the unified girls team swept all four events, bringing home gold medals in the long jump, 100 meter dash, shot put and the four by one relay, along with a number of additional placement medals, absolutely incredible. But more importantly, as Coach Hill will tell you, it's not just about making history, it's about fostering true connections, providing life, giving opportunities to students, and advocating for inclusion. So she sat down on the mic with me recently to chat about her passion for unified sports and where she sees the Gish unified track and field team growing. Here's our conversation.

Andrea Hill  03:47

Andrea Hill, the past program coordinator slash therapist at Grand Island Senior High, and also the head coach for Gish unified track and field. Thank you so much for being here. Well, thank you, Mitch, hello, GIPS nation. Awesome.

Mitchell Roush  04:02

I'm excited this is going to be a fun conversation. So you do a lot for the district, and you do a lot at Grand Island Senior High, and we could talk about all the different things that you do, but we really wanted to learn more about the Gish unified track and field program that is a passion of yours. It is something you've been doing for a while, and you had some really exciting things happen this year. So first of all, just tell me a little bit about what is the Gish unified track and field team. What is that program, and how did you end up leading this program?

Andrea Hill  04:30

Thanks for the questions. Mitch, first it was brought to my attention by actually, Chris McMullen, who is our head of our special education department at Grand Island Senior High, she brought to my attention seven years ago, including Molly Alge. Shout out to Molly Alge, for us to be the leaders to represent the Gish unified Track, track and field. We wanted to bring more representation for the recognition, for the inclusivity. Of unified sports at Grand Island Senior High. So that was created seven years ago by Chris McMullen. She's also a Gish, I have to say. Shout out. She's a Gish grad, so she really wanted to bring unified sports back to Grand Island Senior High. So that's how it all started.

Mitchell Roush  05:13

I love that. And Chris is a rock star. She's one of the best, absolutely. And did she just recently retire? Yes, she just retired, right? Yes, it's she's earned it, but that's a bummer too.

Andrea Hill  05:26

Yes, it is. It is. It is a bummer. But I am so proud of her that she recognized what was needed in our high school level of sports, and bringing unified sports, especially unified track and field, to Grand Island senior high again seven years ago, so I'm just really thrilled to say that she gave Molly eligne the opportunity to start the program and learn from there. So yeah.

Mitchell Roush  05:48

That is awesome. And so unified track and field, along with other unified sports, it's a sanctioned activity by NSAA, which is really cool. Talk to me about the way the team is made up and the way the program operates, because it's got a very specific framework for what you're after.

Andrea Hill  06:05

Yes, well, first of all, seven years ago was our pilot season. So just so everyone knows, like, just how much it's grown in the last seven years, but there was, like, probably 20 teams across the state of Nebraska seven years ago to before it was sanctioned, and then six years ago, when it was sanctioned, what we do for unified track and field is we take our athletes there as kids with intellectual disabilities, and we partner them with our partners, who I work really hard to recruit throughout The school year to be a good fit for our program. And so we take those to the athlete and partner to partner them up to make there's four unified track and field events, the long jump, the shot put, which was actually added three years ago, and then the four by 100 relay, which is my favorite, and the 100 meter dash. And so we take that when they do, we combine the partner and athlete their best times, best throws, and of course, then the relay. We start with a partner, hands off to athlete. Athlete hands off to a partner, and the athlete has to finish to make the four by 100 relay, which, again, is one of my favorite events. So that's how it all starts.

Mitchell Roush  07:17

I've had a chance to see this in action the last couple of years, because y'all have hosted a home meets, which we can talk about a little bit later, which is really exciting as well, but there's, this is all about inclusion and opportunity, and so that's, that's, that's the big driving force behind that. And I know that that is a big passion of yours, as you've wanted to grow this program here. So talk to me about that. Andrea about like, Why? Why is inclusion and opportunity so important to what you do, and important for things like the unified track and field team?

Andrea Hill  07:49

This is a great question. I love, I love such a passionate about this. For, you know, from a coaching perspective, I would, I would have to say, you know, it's pivotal for high school sports to be inclusive because they encourage a sense of belonging, the acceptance, of course, from mental health point of view. Shout out to all my mental health people out there. It improves the mental, social, emotional and the physical health, including the life skills. Growth, lessens bullying and encouraging empathy. Increases a diverse school community, and it does develop, and I'm hoping a positive self image for all student athletes across the state of Nebraska.

Mitchell Roush  08:27

I love that, that you started off too, with that sense of belonging. That's something that I hear a lot as I talk to people around the district, whether it's a curriculum professional, a building principal, a para educator, or a classroom teacher like that's a common theme throughout is helping students find a greater sense of belonging at school. And to your point, activities are a great way to do that. It fosters connection. It gives them a chance to participate in something. But this is for every student, that sense of belonging matters for every student. Why does why is that important?

Andrea Hill  09:01

Well, first of all, I want to talk about like, the benefits as you see as a head coach for the last seven years, for both the athletes and their partners. I mean, I see building long, lasting friendships, a sense of belonging to something very special, boosting their self confidence. Values each each one of my athletes and partners together, they value each other's talents and skills. And skills. They improve again, with the mental, social, emotional and physical health also developing more. I can't stress on this enough the self awareness and social awareness to meet everyone's needs and creating, you know, I'm hoping I do every day is creating a positive and safe environment for everyone, like what you said, like everyone that is at Grand Island Senior High.

Mitchell Roush  09:45

Absolutely. And that, that opportunity to, I mean, this is part of it, right, the connection. But they get to perform, they get to compete, they get to grow in a skill and be a part of a sport. And as they're building. Those connections that's that's huge. Talk to me about working with the activities office and being a part of a state sanctioned sport and everything like that. So what's that experience like?

Andrea Hill  10:10

I'm happy you said that, because what I you and I've talked about this before, but like for the overall school community at Grand Island Senior High, my hope is that we are with the social inclusion providing that impact the entire school climate in a positive way, also promoting that respect, that acceptance and diversity. But I always say with my athletes and partners, I want everyone to know and value what the uniqueness of talents that they bring to the table and the skills we talked about earlier, about like, how I hope this program is fostering the empathy, the communication creating those positive relationships. But you know, I'm happy you said that, because, again, this is not all possible without the significant influence of the commitment and attitude of my supporting cast, which are my amazing, amazing assistant coaches and volunteers. But also, I mean, it starts from the top, Mr. Chris Ladwig as the new athletic director this year. I mean, he took it on straight, you know, took it on 100% and wanted to make sure that, you know, we were providing history last year and the and this year with having our second annual unified track me only you know, Mr. In Limburg was amazing. A shout out to all the 80 staff there. But also Maria Tomlin, I mean, she always makes sure that we have the transportation. Maria does get it done and, you know, and it comes. And then also with Chris McMullen, of all the special education support that is provided from her and her staff that I shout out to them, because they're all amazing at what they do. And then, you know, it goes also on to the other part of the leadership is Mr. Calvin Hubbard. You know, Mr. Hubbard has been amazing. I mean, I do have to say shout out, you know, I want to be sitting here if it wasn't for him with, you know, being able to create and develop the PASS program for Grand Island senior high, so being able to have his support 100% and then I have to give a shout out to my amazing boss, Mrs. Fauci gernstein. I appreciate her. She is. She was there almost at every track meet. I mean, she even went to away. Sorry. Maybe, should I say that or not? But she was, she was able to do that to see her, her daughter, but just the support that she had for us too. It just, it gives me goosebumps, and I get emotional about it, knowing like who behind the scenes, like who, all of our leaderships, for our from our ad office to our principal staff, that what they have done behind the scenes of supporting and giving shout outs and making sure when they see all my athletes are partners throughout the hallways and throughout the in the hallways, giving High fives and everything. It's just it gives me goose bumps again. It's the emotions are just so high right now of just thinking about what they do for us.

Mitchell Roush  12:47

It's an incredible thing to see. And you you see it in the school, like it has become part of the positive culture there. And like, I get to pop in and out of Senior High quite frequently throughout the year, but I don't live there every day, but I'm there a lot. But I see that and I hear it when I hear our staff talk about it at the building, when I see our administrators prioritize it and root on the kids and the support that you give, it's it's indicative that the Unified Program is a core part of what they want to be doing out there. And you know you talked about the unified, only home track meets that you've had a chance to host. I want to talk about that because I got to go last year and I got to go this year. Selfishly, one of my favorite events that we do each year. It's so cool. But what I love is, you know, that's a that's an afternoon like, that's a big event. That event takes place over a lot of hours, and throughout that entire time, you're seeing teachers, you're seeing support staff, you're seeing students, you're seeing administrators pop out throughout the day to come out and root on the kids, to root on the team, and that, I don't think that happens again, unless that's part of the core identity of what what is being established at Senior High, which is really cool. So talk to me about the home track beats, because this is a big deal. This is really, really cool. Tell me about what you did last year and this year.

Andrea Hill  14:03

Well, first of all, I mean, I always like to say this that, you know, I wanted us to be the foundation of history, yeah, and making us be the first we were last year. We were the first ever in central Nebraska to have a to host a unified track me only we did it with four teams, and it grew this year to five teams, and just the amazing support from you as the GIPS communication staff, I can't praise you guys enough. You guys are amazing, but bringing the news out to us in TV, and you know, Channel Five was there just in the newspaper, independent. Shout out to independent as well, coming to support us and making those kids not only be recognized, but they were the well known kids that everyone wanted to know. Who they you know, wanted, wanted to see that that day. And I'm just really proud of, not only again, my supporting cast and my. The the ad Chris Ladwig and and Mr. Lindbergh, and also Mr. Hubbard and fun for Mrs. Gernstein for making it possible that we get to, we get to host that because I know from also my amazing supporting cast of of all the teachers and Paras and staff that want to come help measure, want to come help time. I mean, I can't, I can't stress enough the I'm very blessed and grateful for for that staff to come be a part of us for a day. But I feel that from this year to last year, it's grown tremendously that I was really happy that I can't stress enough again. How important it is that we make history. But I want us to be well known. I want us to know that, you know, that, you know, we're here to stay, we're we're going to continue to grow, and that it's very important to what we said earlier about the inclusivity that, you know, this is a sport. I want everyone to know that they have a they have a home, Grand Island, senior high when it comes to unified track and field.

Mitchell Roush  15:55

Thinking about the the two track meets that you've been able to host, right? Like I, I got to time. I got to be a timer on the 100 meter dash just last year, which was awesome. Loved that. That was a really cool but talk to how did, like, I know that you said you you wanted to be a leader here. You wanted to make history. How does an event like this come together? Like, walk our listeners through that, because this is not a small thing, right? Like, when you're like, I want to be the first central Nebraska school to host one of these, right? It's like, how does that happen?

Andrea Hill  16:23

Well, well, I would have to say, Chris, you know Ladwig. You know this? I Well, how it all happened is, I went, I went to Mr. Ladwig last June, and I said, as we we do that. We meet every, every, every beginning of every June, and we talk about, you know what our programs scheduled of events that are going to be for the following year. So it's well in advance. And I said, I want to host. And he said, Okay, what do we need to do? And so, you know, we just went from there and it all, just it all, just again, a blessing that it all just came into play. I reached out to, you know, I have an amazing, amazing gift staff that I just had to I sent out an email, and I just said, Hey, I need help here, here. I mean, everyone, yeah, they showed up. I mean, it just unreal, gives me goosebumps, even saying that. But they showed up, and I said, I'll get you that. I'll get the staff, and then we just need the timers, and we just need, you know, we have the equipment. And we went from there. We had everything ready to go, and it just, it was not, definitely not luck. It was a blessing that we just all, all that fell into place. And again, if it wasn't for Mr. Ladwig, he says, Okay. And Mr. Lindbergh to saying, hey, that Okay. And Mr. And getting that going, and setting up, reaching out to the four or five teams, Gish, unified or not? Gish, I'm sorry, the unified track and field teams that we thought would be interested, and know that there was an opening that time and went away with it because of a lot of the Unified track and field teams. They do know what we have created at Gish, and know the support they have. And they want to be they want to come here. They want to come here. They we do have some competitiveness. Shout out to Columbus unified and Norfolk. You know, they're definitely part of that. And I just feel it's just the connections. Also, what it's all about too, is the connections that are made. You know, it's not just cheering on Gish unified, it's, it's also cheering on all the other kids. I mean all the other kids from all the other throughout the the state of Nebraska. I mean giving high fives and seeing the relationships also that are last in relationships between my athletes and partners with other with other competitonfrom --

Mitchell Roush  18:32

They know each other. They know each other. They're seeing each other at meets and everything. And so the schools you had this year, you had, you had, I know you had Columbus and Kearney and who else you have?

Andrea Hill  18:44

We had Lexington. Lexington was the first, first unified team ever, and it was really neat, because I got to know that coach, and that's what I love. I feel like I'm trying to be the positive mentor for some of these unified teams that Lexington a lot. Many people don't realize that Lexington was one of the Unified teams that started this year for track and field. And so she reached out to me, and I said, let's get you know. Would you like to come? And I said, Chris, let's, let's get this, let's get this all on the calendar for them, and let's, you know. And it was really quick, because turnaround, because they didn't know how things were going. I said, Well, let's, let me help you. And I, you know, I gave her everything that I cook could to help make sure, to ease her way and remind that of what we needed to do to make a unified check and fill for Lexington. And so we had Lexington, we had Columbus, we had Kearney, North Platte, and us this year for and to grow, we went from four to five this year. So for our unified GISH track meet only.

Mitchell Roush  19:44

So I've again, got to attend last year and I got to attend this year. And if our listeners haven't attended this before, it is really cool to see the kids do well and to compete and have a blast. But it's also. Very entertaining to watch. You get after it. I've got, I've got photos to show that we've posted on social media, like you're down on the ground in the midfield, like yelling out and cheering on these kids, not just for our school, but for all of the schools that are participating. I again, just talking about how driven you are about this program. Like, what like, what drives you to do that?

Andrea Hill  20:22

My mom and dad, thank you. I definitely, I would definitely say I have to bring up this. First of all, I love what I do. I mean, I'm I want to be here every day at Grand Island Public Schools, at Senior High to make those connections. I think it's very important. I think the positive and trusting relationships are what I do best, I think, and the communication piece. But being all my kids, athletes and partners, and all my kids in the past program even, and all the kids that I come into contact with every single day, I want to be their number one cheerleader. I want them to know that, you know, life is too short. Of course, we all know that, but also knowing that, Hey, I am going to be there every step of the way that you do have a trusting adult in your life. I hope that I have that passion for since I was little, and my mom and dad could definitely tell my mom was a former teacher and my dad's a railroader. So I mean, I have a lot of that passion and that value that my parents have instilled and all Well, I have older brother, younger brothers, so all three of us and so shout out to Mom and Dad. Thank you. But I think I have to bring up a story that I thought was really that I'm very passionate about, when you were talking about me being on the ground and yelling and cheering because it's so important. But you know, we also made history this year, because I'm gonna probably cry about this. But Ray Corona, you know, he was the first athlete that he got to do the 100 in his wheelchair this year, and that was huge to see, and me screaming. No one saw it, except myself. I mean, except me feeling it. But I had, I always wear my sunglasses for reasons, because I do get emotional. And I was just crying. I had tears coming down because it was so amazing, and having his mom afterwards give me the biggest hug, knowing that my kids should would have never had this opportunity, and that's what I want GIPS nation to know, like knowing like what these kids have gone through, not only physically, mentally, emotionally in their life, but also knowing that Gish, unified track and field has brought this experience for them to get to do that and show their talent. You know, he is such a talented kid. And he throws, we, we make an exception. Yeah, he throws to I saw him throw Yes, and he does. Smile was so big and so seeing that. You know, my emotions are very high with that, that when you were talking about the cheering and stuff, I just, I love that for myself and for my kids, knowing that making history, and you should just, and I know that you probably saw it, Mitch, but I know people that weren't there only if you could see at the end of the race, a lot of a lot of kids ran down to the end of the 100, and we're yelling for him, Go, Ray, go. And that's what it's all about. And my coaches, we all ran down to make sure that, you know, he got that supporting cast and got those cheers and got everything, and he was so, I mean, he had the biggest smile, and that's what's the most important too, is when he crossed that finish line, seeing that biggest smile. I can say that is the best thing about unified track and field, is getting to see the hugs and the smiles and getting to be right there at the finish line for them, and knowing that, wow, you know what you truly believe in me, and you know I love you, you know.

Mitchell Roush  23:26

That's, that's what it's all about, that's, that's what, that's why we're here and talking about Ray was it was really cool to just to watch that whole display and to see him get his opportunities to perform and let watch everybody cheer for him. What is, what does everyone on the team call him?

Andrea Hill  23:45

Oh, gosh.

Mitchell Roush  23:45

Is it big dog?

Andrea Hill  23:47

Yes!

Mitchell Roush  23:48

Yes, the nickname everyone was yelling out when he was racing.

Andrea Hill  23:51

Yes. And the really cute thing is, he got a new wheelchair this year. Thank goodness. I'm so, you know, I am a shout out to that, because that was amazing. Special Education, the services trying to get that. It's been a long time in the making for him to get that wheelchair. And it was neat, because people don't realize on his wheelchair it's so cute, he has a buzzer. So when he really likes something, he buzzes like crazy, like crazy, like crazy. And I mean, that buzzer was going out a lot the all six trackings that we were at this year. And it was so amazing. And just, not only that, but like, like, for instance, when we went to the unified hack, this is the second year, thank goodness that we have provided a unified hack, and that's in Lincoln. And actually, this year it was in Lincoln High and he also got an that was his second time. He got to be in the 100 wheelchair race with there was seven others from Lincoln schools and Omaha schools that they got to do a race. And he was buzzing that thing the whole time, going down that 100 and just and afterwards, you know, getting him to interact with people that are are similar to him. You know, knowing that, wow, you know what, I am not alone. I am not isolated. I mean, my gosh. These people are just like me, this is so awesome. And he was really I went over there to try to help him, like, give, you know, help with the high fives. And they're all smiling at each other and, oh, it just, that's what it's all about.

Mitchell Roush  25:09

That is so cool to hear. I can listen to this all day because, like, I get student connection opportunity, inclusive. Like, this, is it? This is why we do what we do.

GIPS COMMERCIAL  25:23

Public Schools Newsflash: free meals are available for the month of June. That's why GIPS has Summer Meals open for free breakfast and free lunch all throughout June. Children, one through 18 years old, eat for free, and adults may purchase a meal for only $5.50 meals will be available at five of our schools. Go to gips.org/summer, for information, where you can get free meals this summer. JPS is an equal opportunity provider. See you there!

Mitchell Roush  26:05

So a common through line, in in your, in your, in our conversation Andrea has been this concept of making history because we're providing opportunities for students. So I want to talk about more history that y'all made this year because the girls unified track and field team made some noise. So talk to me about the history that was made there, because you got a lot to be proud of.

Andrea Hill  26:30

Oh gosh, I'm still be mean. I haven't. You shouldn't be I haven't. I don't think I told the girls were laughing at me about Coach Hill. When are you going? When are you going to come off from the wonderful beam. I said, I don't think ever. I think it's going to be all summer into the next year. I don't know. I just but one of the things that people don't realize, and we want to let GIPS nation know, is, we, did we? We just this year, our seventh year, was they divided great they divided unified track and field into a boys slash coed division, a state of girls. Yes, the state Yes, the state did. And so this year was our first year that we got to have a girls unified division only in the shot put, long jump, 100 meter dash and four by 100 relay. And I am so proud, and I get very emotional about it, but we just had a state sweep. We my girls, which was Aurora car, who was a junior soon to be my senior, Wendy Kohler, who was also my junior, soon to be a senior as the athlete. Marau was the partner, Sophia Mora, a freshman athlete as well, and Bailey simf, four amazing girls. Bailey is a freshman as well that that was our partner. These four, I don't think GIPS nation realized what history was made. Not only being the first Grand Island Senior High unified Track and Field girls team to qualify in all four events, but we did a state sweep. We at Omaha, Burke on May 22 we had Wendy Kohler, was the one that she brought all four goals in all shot put long.

Mitchell Roush  28:12

I saw the picture. She had a lot of hardware.

Andrea Hill  28:13

Oh, she did. It was amazing. And I actually got the hardware before picture before. So it was really awesome to always have for myself too. But in the 100 meter dash and four by 100 relay and with the long jump, she Aurora car brought home a few of those golds as well in the long jump and relay with Wendy. And then also Bailey brought home three of those golds, of the four in shot put long jump and the relay as well with them. And then so and then she placed eighth. Bailey did in the long jump with Sophia. And then Sophia brought home the gold. I just have to say this. We are those four made the personal best throughout this whole season at state in the four by 100 relay with a 59.92 seconds, which is unreal. And they, they probably, they want it within four seconds of the second place finishers. It was they, they just, they really worked so hard. And so this is all about what people need to know as is, is how these girls, four girls represented Grand Island Senior High, unified track and field on the biggest stage in their respective sports. How emotional, but how rewarding it was, and overall, it's just not them. It is also our whole 22 kids involved in Grand Island senior High's unified track and field team, about the supporting cast of all of them, and my assistant coaches my volunteers, of all the support that these girls had, being able to have everyone along their way with and parents like I shout out to their parents too, about letting them be a part of something so special, and knowing that history was made. And nothing you know, no one can ever take that away from us that will always be a very special. 2025 spring season.

Mitchell Roush  30:01

As it should be. They're, they're the first ones in school history to be able to do that, and the first winners in in their events at that level, at the state level, absolutely, absolutely nothing could take that away. No, absolutely not so cool. Congratulations to you and your coaches and your team for making that happen.

Andrea Hill  30:18

I thank you so much Mitch, because that just means so much to us. You know, just from I have to laugh. You know, everyone on the team always says that, you know, Coach Hill is the mom on the team I am, and it just makes me feel so good for all 22 kids that I get. And I do my assistant coaches too. I do. I do. I feel like the mom for everyone that you know. I feel the role of being able to do that for my athletes and partners and and I thank you to the parents for allowing me to have the trust in me to be able to make sure that all the needs are being met for all my athletes and and partners and providing that safety and comfort throughout the whole season. The last seven years, it's just been amazing.

Mitchell Roush  31:00

Tt takes a village. It takes a village, regardless of the activity, right? Show, choir, basketball, whatever it takes a village to make all of that happen and to give the high quality experience for the students. Absolutely, that sure does the unified, the Gish, unified track and field teams. You've accomplished a massive amount in a short period of time. When you really think about it, it's incredible. But I know, I know that you're not done, and I know that you have goals, and you've got, you've got plans. So as you, as you look ahead, what are your hopes and goals for the program going forward?

Andrea Hill  31:32

This is great. I, you know, one of my hopes is that, you know, as the sport continues to grow, I didn't get to say this earlier, but in seven years it has. It's really grown so much that there were 66 Nebraska unified track and field teams across the state this year.

Mitchell Roush  31:48

Amazing, phenomenal. I haven't heard that number yet. That is massive.

Andrea Hill  31:52

Yes, it is massive. It went from, you know, our pilot year, seven years ago, to having about 20 to 66 teams in 2025 is just unreal, you know, so my hope is that it does continue to grow every year. And also, a big hope is also continue to raise awareness, you know, for for, for unified sports across the across the, across the board, you know, one of my goals is that our Gish, regular track athletes are more self aware the amazing things that are occurring in unified track, and I would love for them to join in the years to come. Yep, another goal is to, yes, I'm gonna say it. Chris latterwick, I know you're listening. Another goal is that Chris and I have talked about is I want us to be the first to ever, first ever, to host a unified, only district track meet, and I hope in the near future. And you know what I want to you know as my coaches and I continue to do, continue to do what we do best, building and connecting with each student we encounter, and making them aware of the special opportunities that unified sports really have to offer at the high school level.

Mitchell Roush  32:57

I love that and that your passion is contagious. And I I knew you'd have stuff ready if I was, like, if I ask her what she wants to do next. Like, I know, I know you've got goals, and I know that you've got the support at the high school to make it happen. Absolutely, I do. That's awesome. So before we wrap up, is there anything else regarding your work with the unified track and field team and your work at the high school that you want to touch on?

Andrea Hill  33:19

Well, you know, you and you and I have talked earlier about, like, you know, public schools. And I really want to say, I have a few things I want to say. Here is, you know about public schools establish, you know, it wouldn't be possible without the public school system to establish opportunities for all students, whether with or without intellectual disabilities, and that helps them to thrive and grow, no matter where they come from or what their story is, and I feel I continue this every day I walk through the Grand Island Senior High doors is I strive to create equity for all students, which leads to the foundation of encouraging and developing unified sports at the high school level. Again, none of this would be possible without building the positive relationships and developing connections with every student every day to be successful. Wow!

Mitchell Roush  34:06

You got the mission statement?

Andrea Hill  34:09

Yes, and, and one of the things I have to say a shout out is I am truly blessed, not people don't know what in the last seven years, what, what's behind the scenes for unified track and field and what, what I want to try to do to make sure, you know, I don't want any of my athletes or partners to have to worry about any worry about any apparel to buy. I want everything to take food or anything. I want everything to be taken care of. And so I who I got to hold together without without crying, but I'm truly blessed and grateful to my dedicated and committed sponsors every single year that have supported unified track and field since day one. We have such this. I feel unified Gish, unified Track and Field wouldn't be who it is today without my amazing sponsors. And I do have to say shout out. I'm gonna say it all. Brian levander, who Brian. He's a good he's a good family friend of ours. He's a guest grad. He provides our apparel every year for us. Chiefs industries, they were new this year, and I appreciate that, but also a good neighbor also works at chief. So thank you for helping us get get that way. So chief industries, Hy Vee, amazing every year. Barb ingberg from live well, from live well, physical therapy and her staff, Tyler from Pizza Ranch. If anyone knows this, how amazing that that guy is, they would know that we hold a banquet. We've been holding a banquet every year for these kids to show their accomplishments. And Tyler provides all pizza to us. Amazing. Um, he provides all that for us. Um, Dr Josh Connor, also a good friend of a family friend of ours that from Unity eye care and his and his staff, Mr. Mark Ellen from Ellen Capital Group, Luis and his staff from Perkins, they they gave us, um, they donate all the cookies for our banquet every year. Island View. Dental, amazing. Thank you so much. Mr. Tucker. Soundy from Graham tires giving us donations. Miguel from Runza. Miguel has done it practically since day one. We created this program. He provides gift unified only, free meals every for us to have make sure that we have a free meal on them every every track season. Love it. Patrick from Patrick at gi dermatology, and I got to say shout out to Jackie, my dermatologist for donating all the sunscreen to make sure that, you know, we, health wise, that we're good to go for the track season. Mr. Ellen Usher we from Kermit car wash. He gave us opportunity this year to have a new fundraiser by selling Kermit Car Wash cards. And I appreciate that. It was amazing. It was amazing. Trish from copycat, I have to say, she does. She creates our Gish unified posters every year so that, and with all of our sponsors on there, so we can, then we give that. And I thank you to all of our sponsors. And not only that, but then my kids feel famous and feel special when they go to these different sponsors and see their, see their see their picture. Of course, melody from laser works, who creates our gifts, unified team plaques every year, and she does amazing job with that. And that's a gift that we give to all the kids at the banquet and coaches, and then last but not least. And I know I'm probably gonna cry about this, but my loving and very supportive parents, they're on pettico. Well, they don't realize what it means, as you know, having amazing parents that support way behind the scenes, not I mean, I will, I'll give a shout out to them. They bought all of our state qualifying shirts I'm wearing right now for the whole team, you know, I'm to make sure that we got that this year, and so, you know. And I know my kids were like, Oh my gosh, we got to meet mom and dad sometime. And your mom and dad, and they did surprise me last year, they came to the first dish unified track me only. But I just appreciate that. I mean, I we have such amazing community family, from parents, GISH staff, GIPS staff in general, the support that we see and that I hope it, you know, it continues to keep growing, growing growing every year.

Mitchell Roush  38:14

So the power of public education and the partnership and shared interest of community and public school and working together and making this all possible. So cool. Absolutely. Andrea, thank you for being here, but more importantly, thank you for everything that you do every single day to champion our students and to make great things happen. You're a difference maker, and we really appreciate it.

Andrea Hill  38:35

Well, I appreciate you being here today. And Mitch again, I want to be possible without you being amazing. You know your GIPS communication staff to make this possible, to make sure that we do get acknowledged and recognized and spread the word, you know, for the awareness of Grand Island unified track and field. So I appreciate you.

Mitchell Roush  38:53

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