As the speech-language pathologist for Medora Community School Corp., Leesa Olds helps students learn and communicate better.

For the past two years, she has worked with kindergartner Cody Johnson, who has a learning disability and attends therapy sessions to improve his motor skills.

Olds has been struck by Cody’s persistence, which has helped him make great progress. So much so that he was honored with the Michael Harman Communication Award at the All Schools Special Track and Field Meet at Bedford North Lawrence High School.

The annual two-day event features hundreds of competitors with physical, cognitive, learning or speech disabilities. The participants came from 30 elementary, middle and high schools in seven school corporations involved in Joint Services, which covers Orange, Lawrence, Jackson, Martin and Greene counties.

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In her letter nominating Cody for the Harman award, Olds wrote of his progress and work ethic in the face of challenges.

“There are hundreds of kids, so I didn’t dream that he would get it, but I was just so happy for him,” Olds said. “This year, he has made tons of progress. Kids give up, especially when it’s hard, and it takes a lot to keep them going. But even at his age, he’s got that work ethic.”

Each competitor received a medal for participating in the event, while trophies went to winners in the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash, tennis ball toss, Frisbee toss, standing long jump and shuttle relay in elementary and middle/high school divisions.

A handful of students, including Cody, also received plaques for special awards.

Teachers also were recognized during the awards ceremony, with one from each of the school corporations receiving the Shawn McCollum Award for Excellence in Special Education, named after a Lawrence County special education teacher.

For Jackson County schools, the recipients were Deb Schwartz, a special education teacher at Brownstown Central High School, and Misti Wieneke, a special education teacher at Medora.

“I was completely in shock and extremely humbled. It was very sentimental,” Schwartz said. “I didn’t come into teaching to get awards and accolades, but when you work hard, it does feel good to be recognized. But it took a whole team of people to get me where I am today.”

Wieneke said she also was shocked.

“It was very meaningful because I don’t ask for recognition for anything I do,” she said. “But to receive that makes it very special. I do what I do because I love the kids, and that’s the only reason I do it.”

Both Jackson County schools received several awards at the event, which has been conducted for about 20 years.

The first day consisted of running, throwing and field events outside on the track. The second day featured a championship relay race inside the gymnasium and participants dancing to music by a disc jockey before the culminating awards ceremony.

General education high school students from participating schools served as mentors for the competitors.

Brownstown had four high school participants and eight elementary school participants.

Freshman Dylan Bridges earned a trophy for the Frisbee toss, while junior Jackson Isaacs won the 50-meter dash and standing long jump.

Both students prepared for the meet by heading outside with classroom assistant Heather Gomez to work on their technique for a couple of weeks before the competition.

“I just kept practicing all the time,” Isaacs said.

“He loves competition,” Schwartz said of Isaacs. “He loves to compete and push himself to be the best he can be, and I encourage that.”

Bridges was excited about winning an event and earning a trophy. He also liked encouraging his classmates, including Isaacs, senior Ivy Trimble and sophomore Tyler Wheeler.

“I cheered for Tyler and Jackson and Ivy, and I gave them a thumbs-up,” Bridges said, smiling.

Trimble said this was her fourth time competing in the meet. She and Wheeler both said their favorite part about running was hearing Schwartz cheer for them as they sprinted toward the finish line.

Schwartz was proud to see the students continue the school’s tradition of excellence at the meet. One year, Brownstown won the overall spirit award, which resulted in a trophy and a pizza party. Another time, a couple of students in wheelchairs won awards, and an individual won a spirit award.

“We’re continuing that Brownstown Central tradition of working hard and doing your best,” Schwartz said.

Watching the students compete fills Schwartz with pride.

“I was like a proud mom out there. My heart grew two sizes that day,” she said, smiling. “They were cheering other people on, they were where they needed to be, they were doing their best and they were extremely respectful to the other athletes, parents, students and helpers. I just couldn’t be prouder.”

The support Schwartz and the students receive is what makes it all possible, she said. That includes from administrators, school board members, Tri Kappa sorority for providing treats and drinks, high school helpers and Schwartz’s classroom assistants, Gomez and Stephanie Carroll.

“This whole school rallies around our students and makes them feel important and special,” Schwartz said. “I am humbled and grateful to be working and doing a job every day that these young people make me realize how precious life is. I consider myself very lucky.”

Wieneke is in her second stint of teaching at Medora. From 2004 to 2007, she taught English. She’s now finishing her second school year teaching special education, so this was her second time experiencing the track and field meet.

“It was a huge event,” she said. “It’s unbelievable how many athletes participate, and then there are the high school buddies from (Bedford North Lawrence) and we bring high school buddies, and they get to work one-on-one with the kids all day. It’s just fantastic because those kids are so respectful and so kind to give up their time like that to work with the kids.”

Fifth-grader Matthew Inscoe was among five Medora students competing. He brought home a trophy for the 50-meter dash.

“It made me feel good,” he said. “I like running. It helps me by not being inside playing video games.”

Eighth-grader Glen Bartley has competed in the track and field meet since he was in kindergarten. He likes the 50- and 100-meter dashes the most.

“I really enjoy talking with other people from the different schools,” he said. “I enjoy hanging out with the others and meeting new people. It’s not often that you get to do something like that.”

Wieneke said the meet benefits her students by getting socialization skills and physical activity, and, of course, winning awards boosts their confidence.

“It’s very rewarding because I get to see throughout the year the progress they make,” she said. “But for somebody else to recognize that achievement or progress, it’s very emotional and rewarding. It makes them feel so good about what they’ve been able to do.”

Next year, Wieneke said she hopes to offer more training for the students ahead of the event.

“The main thing is for them to have fun and enjoy the day and also to interact with students from other schools and just know that if they try to achieve something, they can do it,” she said. “It gives them an opportunity to compete but not with the stress or the pressure.”