Kelso High School has two students and one staff member heading to the national stage for something special. Unified athlete Isayah Eddleman, partner Mallory Wells, and Head Coach/Paraeducator Karen Cloke were selected to represent Washington at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota this June not as competitors, but as Youth Leaders. They are the only Washington Youth Activation Committee team traveling with athletes to experience the 10-day event.

Before heading to nationals, Isayah, Mallory, and Cloke will continue their leadership journey at the Winter State Games in Wenatchee, February 27–March 1, as part of the Youth Leadership Experience. There, they will deliver presentations about Unified Sports, lead activities, participate in student Q&A panels, build social media outreach, and assist with Winter Games events. Cloke will also collaborate with Unified coaches and school directors from across the state, mentoring and guiding schools as they expand their programs and deepen their impact.

For Cloke, the results of Unified Sports are visible far beyond the basketball court.

“Experiences with Unified sports seeps into the whole school,” said Cloke. “Students who had limited opportunities to interact with each other before are now giving each other hugs and high fives in the hallways. They greet one another with smiles and excitement. Thanks to Unified sports, their compassion grows and they form genuine bonds of friendship that go beyond athletics.”

As Kelso High School prepares to represent Washington on the national stage, one thing is clear: Unified Sports is not just building teams—it’s building leaders, friendships, and a culture where everyone belongs.

How They Were Selected

During the 2024–25 school year, the trio interviewed and were selected to serve on the Washington Youth Activation Committee (YAC) for Unified and Special Olympics. In their interview, they were asked to reflect on their experiences in Unified Sports and its personal impact. Isayah and Mallory shared how their friendship—formed through basketball—has shaped who they are as both athletes and individuals. Together with Cloke, they spoke passionately about their mission to expand inclusion and ensure every student feels accepted and supported in school and in sports.

Last June, the team attended a statewide conference where they met other Washington YAC members. They engaged in meaningful discussions about what inclusion looks like in their schools and how it changes lives. The Kelso team also assisted with the Special Olympics Summer Games—participating in events, conducting interviews with athletes and volunteers, and amplifying the voices of the Unified community.

Soon after, Cloke received extraordinary news from Morgan Larche, Director of Unified Schools for Special Olympics Washington: Isayah and Mallory had so impressed leaders with their authenticity, leadership, and commitment to inclusion that they were invited—along with Cloke—to represent Washington at the 2026 USA Special Olympics competition in Minnesota this June.

Why It Matters

Unified Sports is about more than competition — it’s about belonging.

By bringing together students with and without disabilities on the same team, Unified Sports creates authentic relationships that extend far beyond the court. At Kelso High School, those relationships are reshaping school culture.

Programs like Unified Sports directly support Kelso School District’s commitment to Climate & Culture by:

• Expanding opportunities for every student to feel seen and valued
• Creating student leaders who model inclusion
• Building empathy and compassion across peer groups
• Strengthening school connectedness — a key indicator of student success

When students feel that they belong, they show up differently — academically, socially, and emotionally.

Unified Sports is not just building teams. It’s building a school where everyone belongs.

WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Land Management is inviting public input for proposed updates to resources management across 2.5 million acres of highly productive timberlands in western Oregon, an effort that underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to expanding domestic timber production and reducing reliance on foreign imports.

“Bringing timber production back to historic levels is essential for reviving local economies and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires,” said Acting BLM Director Bill Groffy. “President Trump has made it clear — enhanced domestic timber production is vital for our national security, economic prosperity, and effective wildfire management.”

A notice will publish in tomorrow’s Federal Register to open the comment period, which closes on March 23. Additional information is available at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” option. Written comments may also be emailed to LM_OR_Revision_Scoping@blm.gov" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 94, 162);">BLM_OR_Revision_Scoping@blm.gov or delivered to: Attention BLM OR930, 1220 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204.

The BLM remains committed to supplying a secure, resilient domestic timber supply. In western Oregon, this commitment is rooted in the Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act of 1937, which ensures sustainable forestry practices that support communities and livelihoods.

Revenue from timber harvested on these lands is shared between the U.S. Treasury and 18 western Oregon counties—funding essential local services such as schools, libraries, public safety, and infrastructure projects. Each year, BLM timber sales support approximately 2,000 local jobs and generate more than $1 billion for local economies.

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The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.