Dedicated Special Olympics PEI coach Morgan Jardine received recognition from Special Olympics North America when she was awarded the Rising Star- Community award.
"Morgan is a perfect example of someone this award is intended to recognize. She has gracefully balanced her academic pathway with her commitments. Morgan understands the people we collectively serve at Special Olympics and has a heart that genuinely wants to get to know each individual, understand their needs, and ensure they have the best opportunity to succeed." shares Charity Morrow-Sheehan, Executive Director at Special Olympics PEI.
Morgan's Involvement/Recognition:
- Registered Volunteer August 2022-2024
- Charlottetown Adult Community Sport 1x/week (1.5hrs) for 45 weeks
- Charlottetown Active Start and FUNdamentals 1x/week (1hr) for 15 weeks
- Charlottetown Floor Hockey 1x/week (2hrs) for 20 weeks
- Charlottetown 5-Pin Bowling 1x.week (1.5hrs) for 30 weeks
- SOPEI Provincial UNIFIED Bocce Championships - event volunteer
- SOPEI 2022 Annual AGM and Awards - event volunteer
- Finalist for the 2023 SOPEI Sport Volunteer of the Year Award
- 2024 SOC Rising Star Coach of the Year
Each year, Special Olympics North America recognizes individuals through three distinct awards:
Rising Star: The Rising Star Award highlights coaches early in their careers and have already made significant contributions to Special Olympics at a local, regional, or national level. This award focuses on coaches who have demonstrated a commitment to the organization while having the potential to make a large impact in the future.
Outstanding Coach: The Outstanding Coach Award recognizes the coach who best demonstrates the true ideals of the coaching profession in a local program. This person leads by example and expects athletes to set and strive to reach goals. Separate categories are available for coaches who work in school-based environments (Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® programming) and community-based environments.
Annette K. Lynch Lifetime Achievement Award: This award recognizes contributions over the entirety of a career by a Special Olympics coach. This award recognizes and promotes individuals who have made a significant contribution to Special Olympics through coaching over a minimum of 20 years.
An impressive field of 18 coaches was submitted from the more than 116,000 coaches who volunteer their time across North America, making the job of the selection committee no small task.
Special Olympics North America was pleased to include Kelly Peltz as Gallagher’s representative on the selection committee.
Morgan represents more than 17,635 Coaches and Volunteers who support the development of Special Olympics Canada athletes and Unified partners. Join Special Olympics Canada in providing quality sports training and competition opportunities to individuals with intellectual disabilities by becoming a coach today: Become a Coach | Special Olympics Canada.
Special Olympics is proud to partner with Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, and Official Sponsor of Special Olympics International Sport and Coach Programming. Gallagher’s support of the Special Olympics movement stems from a shared commitment to inclusion. Special Olympics and Gallagher are empowering athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to face their future with confidence—on and off the playing field—through quality coaching and sports training experiences.
About Gallagher
Gallagher is one of the world's largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms. As a community insurance broker and trusted local consultant, we help people and businesses move forward with confidence. With more than 52,000 people working around the globe, we're connected to the places where we do business and to every community we call home. Managing risk with customized solutions and a full spectrum of services, helping you foster a thriving workforce, and always holding ourselves to the highest standards of ethics to help you face every challenge - that's The Gallagher Way. https://ajg.com
About Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 accredited Programs, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year. Learn more at Special Olympics.org and visit: X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
