The Organizing Committee for the Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Ken Garff for Good announced the launch of the Champion Schools 34 education program, a statewide initiative designed to bring Olympic and Paralympic values into Utah elementary schools. The program seeks to strengthen literacy, increase school engagement, and inspire long-term academic success through a digital platform and athletic mentorship.
Statewide Pilot Program Details
The inaugural pilot phase of the Champion Schools 34 program will launch this fall in 72 elementary schools. These participating schools are located across seven Utah school districts: Salt Lake City, Cache County, Granite, Iron County, North Sanpete, Duchesne County, and Uintah County. According to the Utah 2034 organizing committee, the initiative is the first phase of a broader education strategy being developed by a 16-member committee chaired by Amy Garff.
Digital Literacy Tools
Champion Schools 34 will utilize a digital platform developed by Ken Garff for Good, a foundation that has partnered with educators and community leaders for over 20 years. The platform, which serves as an extension of the Ken Garff for Good Literacy Initiative, provides teachers with lesson plans, book recommendations, and motivational videos featuring Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
To encourage reading habits, the program allows students to track their reading minutes to earn prizes. Students can reach a "silver standard" by reading 20 minutes a day, or a "gold standard" by reading 30 minutes a day. Schools can also establish themselves as Champion Schools based on the collective reading commitment of their student bodies.
Olympic Values in Classrooms
The program is built upon the Olympic Values Education Program (OVEP), a series of free teaching resources developed by the International Olympic Committee. While the OVEP has reached more than 60 million young people in 138 countries, the Champion Schools 34 version has been specifically adapted to serve Utah elementary schools.
Each month, participating schools will focus on a different core value. The program is designed to show students that being a champion extends beyond the playing field to include traits like perseverance, respect, hard work, and self-belief. Amy Garff, chair of the Utah 2034 Education Committee, stated that the goal is for every student to recognize their potential to make their school and classroom stronger.
Athlete Mentorship and Inspiration
As Utah 2034 CEO Brad Wilson explained, the committee chose to launch the program well before the 2034 Games to create a lasting legacy. Wilson noted that by tying Olympic values to education and literacy, the organization hopes to create a compound effect on the lives of students and their families.
During a ceremony at Backman Elementary School on September 1, 2026, Paralympic snowboarder Joe Pleban spoke to students about the benefits of reading. Pleban, who competed in the 2026 Games, noted that reading helps him calm his mind while traveling for competitions. Bobsledder Hunter Powell also addressed students, encouraging them to chase big dreams and believe in their own capabilities.
Regional Celebration Schedule
The launch of the program was marked by "Opening Ceremonies" at seven selected elementary schools throughout September. These celebrations include activities such as assemblies with Olympians and Paralympians, torch relays, and parades of classrooms.
In the Uintah Basin, two schools were selected to host these ceremonies. Maeser Elementary in Uintah County is scheduled to host an event on September 9, 2026, while Centennial Elementary in Duchesne County will host its ceremony on September 10, 2026.
Future Expansion Plans
Local educators have expressed optimism regarding the program's ability to impact academic performance. Matthew Teitter, principal of Backman Elementary, noted that reading has a positive spillover effect across various academic domains.
While the current pilot is limited to 72 schools, Utah 2034 organizers expressed intentions to expand the reach of the Champion Schools program to all elementary schools across the state in the future.
