During their May 2023 meeting, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees voted in favor of the following resolution honoring the Helen Keller School of Alabama Basketball Team. 

WHEREAS, the Helen Keller School of Alabama continues to demonstrate that their potential is limitless as they competed in the 2023 Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama, March 9-10, 2023, winning the title of Special Olympics State Basketball Champions, and 

WHEREAS, Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children with intellectual disabilities designed to give children opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship, and

WHEREAS, the Helen Keller School of Alabama 2023 Special Olympics basketball team was comprised of Kiemonta Carr from Tuscaloosa, Taylor Gannon from Wilsonville, Parris Kennie from Marion, Gabriel Locker from Talladega, Chanz McCall from Birmingham, George Meyers from Eastaboga, Timirra Spencer from Montgomery, and Tierece Wilson from Birmingham, and

WHEREAS, the Helen Keller School of Alabama 2023 Special Olympics basketball team was coached by Laura Hurst, head coach and teacher at Helen Keller School of Alabama, and Wesley Haley, assistant coach and paraprofessional at Helen Keller School of Alabama, and

WHEREAS, the Helen Keller School of Alabama 2023 Special Olympics basketball team defeated the Dothan, Alabama team in Game 1 with a final score of 6 to 4, and bested Talladega ARC (Altapointe) in Game 2 with a score of 30 to 17, and

WHEREAS, the Helen Keller School of Alabama 2023 Special Olympics basketball team clinched the title after winning Game 3 against the Decatur, Alabama team with a final score of 31 to 18, and

WHEREAS, we all have reasons to shine.  For Special Olympics athletes, one of those reasons is the love of sport. Special Olympics athletes display remarkable abilities not only on the field, but in all areas of life, and

WHEREAS, by celebrating their dedication and perseverance, we become champions for a more inclusive world.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind celebrates the success of the 2023 Special Olympians and wishes them well in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Helen Keller School of Alabama 2023 Special Olympics basketball team and a copy be spread across the minutes of this meeting.DONE this the 16^th day of May 2023.