Thousand Oaks High Earns National Recognition from Special Olympics and ESPN for Excellence in Inclusion

In recognition of its exceptional commitment to inclusion, Thousand Oaks High School was named one of 45 schools nationwide to make the 2025 ESPN Honor Roll and is one of three schools selected to receive an in-person celebration during the 2025–2026 school year by Special Olympics and ESPN.

The celebration tipped off at center court on Friday, March 20th, with Hall of Fame sportscaster Linda Cohn of ESPN congratulating the school for fostering a culture of belonging and inclusion. Cohn also served as emcee for the highly anticipated Unified basketball game.

As part of the Conejo Valley Unified School District’s annual “March Madness in the Conejo” tradition, the Unified Sports team from TOHS faced off against Westlake High School in front of packed student bleachers inside the Lancer gymnasium.

Special Olympics Unified Sports, as part of ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative, brings together students with disabilities and their neurotypical peers on the same team. Each team is composed of approximately half Special Olympics athletes and half Unified partners. In preparation for the annual games, the teams typically practice once a week where training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship, understanding and school unity.  

Thousand Oaks High School’s Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is being honored by ESPN as a result of meeting national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. With sports as the foundation, the three-component model of the Unified Champion Schools program (Special Olympics Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement) offers a combination of activities that equip young people with tools to create sports, classrooms, and school climates of acceptance. 

The atmosphere in the gym was nothing short of electric as students shined on the court in a powerful display of inclusion, sportsmanship, and school spirit. This year’s game was extra special as an official banner recognition ceremony took place during halftime with representatives on hand from Special Olympics and ESPN to honor TOHS as a National Banner Unified Champion School. As part of this recognition, the Unified Sports Program at TOHS also received a donation to support and enhance their inclusion efforts.

Congratulations to Thousand Oaks High School on their well-earned national recognition for exceptional commitment to inclusion!