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Mackenzie Curry is the new student representative for the Dunkirk Board of Education.
Mackenzie Curry is senior class president and captain of Unified. She was chosen by her peers for the Board of Education position.
Unified “focuses mainly on inclusion and respect for everybody,” she said. “Through Unified, every single day, we make memories we’re gonna carry for the rest of our lives, especially well after graduation.”
Curry listed what the program has been up to this school year:
— Nearly 40 Dunkirk Unified kids hosted a Youth Activation Summit at SUNY Fredonia Sept. 30. Numerous local schools attended.
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Dunkirk’s Unified program recently raised $8,000 for the Special Olympics with a Polar Plunge held on campus, in spite of heavy snow that ruled out a trip to Woodlawn Beach State Park for the event.
The summit aimed to promote “inclusion” — as does the Unified program overall, with its sports activities for children of all development levels. The summit featured discussions and sessions dedicated towards fostering an inclusive environment.
— Before homecoming, the Class of 2024 donated a monument in honor of Unified athlete Mekiah Sedlacek. It’s engraved with his saying, “We’re all best friends here.”
— Dunkirk Unified held its third annual Friendsgiving celebration with food and crafts. Attendees created friendship bracelets to emphasize unity.
“It’s a really nice way for everyone to come together and show we really are a family in Unified,” Curry said.
— Dunkirk Unified participated in its first bocce competition, rolling in a tourney with 48 teams.
— On Dec. 6, a Polar Plunge raised $8,000 for the Special Olympics. The news was greeted with applause from the board meeting attendees.
Snow forced Unified to quickly change plans for the event. The plunge was supposed to be at Woodlawn Beach State Park, but the terrible travel weather halted that. Curry thanked Athletic Director Andrew Burnside for helping to put together an on-campus plunge. Tubs filled with icy water stood in for Lake Erie.
Curry concluded by noting what’s ahead for Unified. There’s a group trip to see “The Lion King” at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, “continuing a festive tradition,” she said. A holiday party is coming, with hot chocolate, cookies, games, and dancing. “We all really just, again, bond,” Curry said.
Ending her report, Curry put a plug in for Dunkirk Unified’s new online merchandise store, and thanked the Board of Education for its support.