ABOVE: Members of Unified Cardinals walk through a high five line after playing soccer in the spring of 2025. Of 3,174 schools in Minnesota, Fairmont Schools were one of 14 to be given the National Banner School Recognition for inclusion of people with disabilities. Submitted photo

FAIRMONT – Out of 3,174 schools in Minnesota, Fairmont was one of 14 that received the National Banner School Recognition as a Unified School for opportunities inclusive of students with disabilities, including Unified Cardinals.

Unified Cardinals began in the 2017-18 season thanks to teacher Mark Hernes and student Matt Lytle. They started with a Unified Track and Field Team, led the charge that brought about Fairmont starting its own Cool School Plunge inclusivity event and paved the way for the current Unified Cardinals Program.

Hernes has retired, but special education teacher Joelle Thomas and eighth grade PE and health teacher Shawna Zabinski continue to lead the charge as head coach and assistant coach of Unified Cardinals.

“We promote inclusion through sports leadership opportunities and social events and activities,” Thomas said. “Our program is rooted in the belief that meaningful connections and shared experiences foster a stronger, more compassionate student body.”

The club is available to all Fairmont High School students, of whom 75 are currently involved. Zabinski said the club chooses their activities with help from Special Olympics.

“Special Olympics sends out an email at the beginning of the year and says, ‘Hey, here are all the opportunities that you can go to,'” she said. “We pretty much signed up for all of them within a certain mileage range, so we’re not on a bus for long hours. We go, we participate and we come back.”

The club has bi-monthly meetings on Monday mornings and afternoons, and students choose which to attend depending on their schedules.

Their first sport of the year is coming up next week with pickleball and following that, they will be doing football. Their first activity this year was a meet and greet last week, where surrounding school districts, students and staff were invited to learn about the Unified Cardinals program.

With this program, Zabinski said she has seen so much growth in her students.

“More of that kindness, growth mindset,” she said. “Their courage, their perseverance, that acceptance, integrity piece when they get to work with a student with a disability; for the sole fact that’s not who they get to see every day. That’s not who they’re with every day.”

School-wide, Thomas said she has seen a change in the culture at Fairmont Area Schools.

“A lot of times we talk about school culture and we talk about building a positive community,” she said. “This is truly making an impact. You can see it in the hallway. You can see our partners walking down the hallway and seeing our athletes high-fives, fist bumps and yelling down the hallway. ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ It’s so refreshing to see that swing in a positive direction.”

Being recognized as a National Banner School, which included meeting 10 requirements regarding unified sports, inclusive activities and whole-school inclusion, Zabinski said a lot of the credit goes to Hermes for being at the forefront of what Unified Cardinals is today.

“[Hermes] did so much work on the forefront for both of us that he really should take a lot of recognition for all the work he has done in the past,” she said. “Our students show it in their everyday life that they’re fully committed to including students with disabilities.”

Looking forward, Thomas said they are looking to continue expanding options for unified opportunities.

“We’re working closely with administration and our Superintendent Andy Traetow to come up with a more cohesive plan,” she said. “Moving forward, we plan on next year, hopefully implementing a unified advisory, rolling out some more opportunities for students to join unified classes. We currently have a unified curriculum for a unified art class, which aligns to the Minnesota State Standards.”

Through their continued actions and potential expansion, Thomas believes they can be a leader in this area of support and action.

“Not only changing the way schools handle their inclusive piece, but how our community handles our inclusion with individuals with disabilities,” she said. “We’re really hoping we’re on the forefront of this revolution.”

For more information, call Fairmont High School at (507) 238-4411.