Meet the State YAC - Special Olympics Arizona

State Youth Activation Committee
Jamie Behymer | Cactus Shadows High School
My name is Jamie Behymer, I am seventeen-years-old and a senior at Cactus
Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona. Seven years ago my brother, who has
autism, started competing as a Special Olympics athlete, and I was always at
competitions cheering him on. I was fortunate enough to learn about Unified Sports, a
program that allowed me to participate as a partner and work with him and other
athletes. As a partner, I have participated in Special Olympics Unified Tennis, Track,
Golf and Cheerleading, and in 2011, I joined the Special Olympics Arizona Youth
Activation Committee. After having the privilege of working with the State YAC for a
year, I was offered a position on the National Youth Activation Committee. As the
representative of Arizona, I've been able to propel my state Project UNIFY® spirit
across the country, and even co-authored the Inclusive Youth Leadership Guidebook
to further the mission of Special Olympics. My love for Special Olympics is both on
and off the playing field. I have been honored to form life-long friendships with
partners and athletes and foster acceptance, inclusion, and the Project UNIFY®
movement in communities everywhere.
Brock Walkenback | Valley Vista High School
Hello my name is Brock Walkenbach! I am currently 17 years of age and ready to do what
I can to help out kids with intellectual disabilities. I am a varsity baseball player and a
National Honors Society student and use my strengths such as responsibility,
dependability, respect, and trustworthiness in and out of the classroom. Being a part of the
YAC is an amazing experience to help increase inclusion for those who have intellectual
disabilities. What got me interested in helping kids with disabilities was my cousin with
special needs. Seeing his potential gave me an incentive to get involved and make a
difference. I have been involved in Special Olympics and other special needs events at my
high school. I look forward to enhancing Project UNIFY and making a difference!
Jacob Bourgogne | Brophy College Preparatory
My name is Jacob Bourgogne and I am a going to be a senior at
Brophy College Preparatory. I am the Co-President of Brophy's
YAC and I am a member of the state YAC. I first got involved in
Brophy's Game Day and I have made countless friends over the
past two years I have worked with Special Olympics. I support
Project UNIFY because my uncle has Cerebral Palsy and I want to
be an advocate for change, especially at my school where there
is not a special needs population.
State Youth Activation Committee
Tom Tracey| Chaparrel High School
Hi my name is Tom Tracey and I am currently a Junior at Chaparral High School. I
became involved in the State Youth Activation Committee during my Sophomore
year in high school because I wanted a way to get involved with Project Unify. I was
involved with Best Buddies my Freshman year and thats what really opened my
eyes to helping promote inclusion for students with disabilities. I am glad that I get to
be part of such an amazing and rewarding committee.
Emma Mangiapane| Pinnacle High School
My name is Emma Mangiapane; I am fifteen years old and a sophomore at
Pinnacle High School. I first started helping special needs kids in 7th grade
at my middle school. It was such a great experience that I decided to
become their classroom aide the following year. That was the point when I
knew that I needed to be more involved. As a result, I looked to Special
Olympics to see if they had a place for my passion and desire to make a
positive difference. Since initially reaching out, I have been able to
volunteer for Special Olympics, and am in the process of getting Unified
Sports started in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. It is an honor
to be a part of YAC, and Special Olympics continues help me create
significant change in the world every day.
Logan Johnston | Sunrise Mountain High School
My name is Logan Johnston and I am currently a junior at
Sunrise Mountain High School. I have been involved in Special
Olympics for just over two years now. I am a member of the
Special Olympics Arizona Youth Activation Committee and also a
Special Olympics Unified Sports partner. Being involved with
Special Olympics, Unified Sports, and the Project UNIFY
movement have been life changing experiences. They have
allowed me the opportunity to not only be involved, but have a
greater understanding of the intellectual disabilities population. I
look forward to the new experiences that lie ahead.
State Youth Activation Committee
Chris Khoury | Raymond S. Kellis High School Alumni
My name is Chris Khoury I am 18 and I just graduated from
Raymond S. Kellis High School in May. I started with Special
Olympics when I was a freshman in high school. One of my
teachers came up to me and asked if I would like to get more
involved, and I said sure. I went to a Youth Activation meeting,
not knowing if I was going to stay and get more involved. Since
then, I have been to Nebraska, Utah, July and North Carolina to
talk about Special Olympics and spread the word. Special
Olympics is my life and my career path.
Hannah McWilliams | Northern Arizona University
My name is Hannah McWilliams. I am 17 years old and just
graduated from Chandler High School! I am now attending
Northern Arizona University. I joined Project Unify because I love
the idea of inclusion and want to pursue it as much as possible.
Project Unify has changed my life in so many positive ways.
Cameron Minshull | University of Arizona
I'm Cameron Minshull, and I'm currently a freshman at the
University of Arizona in Tucson. I've been involved with Special
Olympics for five years, when my stepmom introduced me to
Unified Volleyball. I learned volleyball through Unified, and
Unified is still my favorite way to play it. I've been on the state
YAC for two years and in that time, I've focused a lot more on RWord campaigns at my high school, Rancho Solano Prep. Besides
giving me countless life-long friends, Unified Sports has shown
me that having an intellectual disability doesn't make anybody
different from anyone else and that having an intellectual
disability is no reason to treat anyone differently.
State Youth Activation Committee
Austin Rector | Chandler/Gilbert Community
Hi, my name is Austin Rector and I am 18 years old. Although
I've only been a YAC member for about a year, I've been
involved with Special Olympics for many years. I was bullied
often through elementary and middle school, and I've always
loved sports. Being involved with Project Unify has given me the
opportunity to help spread awareness about the hurtful effects of
bullying, acceptance for all people, and gives me an opportunity
to be a part of the sports I love. I can still remember the first
Special Olympics sports practice I attended, and I've been
hooked ever since!
Naman Shah | Arizona State University
Hello, my name is Naman Shah. I am an incoming freshmen at
Arizona State University and begin studying business in the fall. I
started Special Olympics two years ago looking for a way to
change school climate and found Special Olympics to be adhesive
in creating an inclusive and thriving environment. Since then I
have created numerous Unified Sports Programs as well as
participated as a partner in them, recently aided the Paradise
Valley School district to approve Unified Sports Curriculum,
helped in the creation process of Youth Activation Committees
world wide, and served on the Special Olympics Arizona Board of
Directors. Project UNIFY is a venue for youth like me to have a
voice and create a change for those with and without intellectual
disabilities.
Meaghan Tracey | University of Arizona
Bio coming soon
For more information on the Youth Activation Committee please contact:
Isaac Sanft | Director of Support Programs | [email protected] | 602.324.5667

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