One of UHS’s most spirited events is Unilympics, where students come together for an event that has become a staple of school life. This tradition allows each grade to compete against one another in a series of five events—one for each day of the week. From Feb. 3 to Feb. 7, the school is filled with enthusiasm and competition as students showcase their talents and build team spirit while their grade cheers them on from the stands. Between sports and gaming, Unilympics offers something interesting for everyone to watch, making it one of the most fundamental events of the year.
In the weeks leading up to it, a dedicated group of people, including ASB, other students, teachers and administrators, works hard to ensure everything runs smoothly. From planning to organizing to executing, a lot goes on behind the scenes to create the enjoyable experience students look forward to.
One of the first tasks of the overall process is choosing events by brainstorming and debating to come up with only the best ideas. Students put in a lot of effort to ensure the events are well-planned.
“When the event date gets closer, I shift my focus to the smaller logistical details that can often get overlooked,” senior and ASB Vice President Adrian Nguyen said. “It’s important to delegate responsibilities to others and establish committees to be successful.”
One of the most significant parts of organizing this event is the workhouses. Each class’s student council arranges workhouses to encourage students of their grade to help make posters. Workhouses, which are each about three to four hours long, usually begin a few weeks in advance. This schedule ensures enough time to finish everything before the event starts. It is a massive effort to ensure all the events are coordinated well and run effortlessly, even with last-minute adjustments. Having students who are willing to contribute is extremely helpful.
“It was a great opportunity for us to bond together and make memories,” Freshman Class Vice President Kaya Dym said. “We got a lot of work done while having fun in the process.”
An exciting part of Unilympics is the visual transformation, as students set up posters, each representing their grade and class color. Each class collaborates to make sure a team for each event is ready and updated on details, such as strategy or any possible challenges.
There are many challenges leading up to the event. Although obstacles vary based on the different responsibilities, there is a common one that ASB struggled with.
“One of the biggest challenges in organizing Unilympics is the persistent and ongoing need for communication—constant emails to admin, in-person chats with teachers and online check-ins with class presidents,” Nguyen said.
Once the week begins, organization becomes one of the main concerns. Without time to adjust to any dramatic changes, they must work their hardest during these five days to avoid throwing the schedule off; because of this, ASB and teachers ensure that the week runs with minimal problems from day to day and smooth out any possible issues they do have.
“When it comes to setting up events that last throughout the week, there are some days when we don’t have a class to set up, and that can be a struggle,” Sophomore Class President Ayla Agahi said. “Luckily, during class, we split up into committees and have a designated group of people for each event.”
At its core, Unilympics is not just about competing against each other, it is about fostering long-lasting relationships and building bonds through teamwork, with every student connected through the school community. This year, thanks to the hard work of ASB, teachers and the student body, Unilympics was an enjoyable experience that will continue to be a paramount part of UHS’s traditions.
“Overall, Unilympics is a way for students to contribute to their school and connect with others across all four grade levels,” Dym said.
