Fort Myers High School hosts annual unified basketball game

Students, staff, family, and friends came together on Friday for the annual unified basketball game at Fort Myers High School. College students even showed up for a dunk contest.

It wasn’t homecoming or the playoffs, but from the fans in the stands, you’d think they were cheering at the biggest game of the year, and you’d be right.

Fort Myers High School students packed the gym for the annual unified basketball game.

“Oh, it really warms my heart. It gives me chills watching it because it just makes me feel so good inside,” said Kiera Pelle, a senior at Fort Myers High School.

This game is the finale of the school’s inclusive week when Fort Myers High promotes shared opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities.

Florida SouthWestern State College basketball players even came out for a halftime dunk contest.

For students like Pelle, the event is genuinely uplifting. “My favorite thing is watching, you know, these athletes make shots and just the constant encouragement and just the feeling of inclusion and everyone being so supportive, and the whole school just really coming out and showing their support for this amazing event.”

The big game ended in a tie, but the final score was unimportant for a change. Everyone involved is a winner.

Fort Myers High School is one of 13 in the state to fly a Special Olympics banner, meaning the school meets ten standards of excellence, collaboration, and engagement.