Exceptional Children’s teacher Sam Iulo was recently chosen as North Carolina’s Special Olympics Coach of the Year for 2014. Iulo was presented the award by Field Services Director Wendy Miller at a Special Olympics basketball game held during empower time on Friday, March 20, at FFHS. The gym was packed with students and staff supporting the Special Olympic athletes.

At the beginning of the game, Miller was given the microphone by head football coach Jim Prince and announced Iulo had won the award. This announcement was a surprise for Iulo, who was not previously informed of her win.

“It was really awkward,” Iulo said. “There are so many deserving people and it’s hard being the one chosen.”

Iulo was chosen out of 35,000 Special Olympics coaches in North Carolina for her hard work and dedication to the athletes.

“It takes a lot and I know how hard she works,” Miller said. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”

Iulo became involved with Special Olympics in 2011 when she coached an athlete to compete in equestrian competitions. Since then, she has taken more athletes to these competitions each year and remains actively involved.

“Even if they’re not actively participating in the horseback riding portion I still try and get them all out there because I feel like it’s an opportunity for them all to get together,” Iulo said.

Currently, there are 30 to 40 athletes participating in Dare County Special Olympics. Anyone over the age of eight with an intellectual disability or a disability that greatly affects their everyday life can participate in the program, according to Iulo.

Not only does Iulo teach many of these athletes in school, but she also works to provide outside opportunities for them to learn new and helpful life skills.

“A lot of our high school focus is on transition,” Iulo said. “We’re looking for real world opportunities for the students because they can’t take a lot of what they do in school with them.”

Iulo’s emphasis on creating opportunities for her students is one reason why she is thought highly of by those who work with her.

“She really rounds out their (the athletes) lives within the community,” said Jackie Bunn Manteo Middle School Speech and Language Therapist.

Iulo wants to congratulate not only the athletes, but the community and FFHS for their participation during this event.

“It’s really a huge effort on the community’s part to have all these caring people,” Iulo said. “And kudos to First Flight for embracing our Special Olympics athletes, and treating people with special needs not only with respect, but like they’re people.”

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