Savanah “Savy” Overturf, the 2025 Special Olympics Colorado Female Athlete of the Year, is a resilient leader and passionate advocate for inclusion. Despite early challenges, including predictions she would never speak or graduate, Savy defied the odds—earning a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University, authoring a book, and delivering impactful speeches, including a TEDx talk in Grand Junction.

For over a decade, Savy has excelled in flag football, cycling, and swimming through Special Olympics. Beyond competition, she has advocated for inclusion on Capitol Hill, serves as Chair of the Athlete Leadership Council, sits on SOCO’s Board of Directors, and is a graduate of Athlete Leadership University.

An activist and poet, Savy uses her voice to inspire change and promote understanding. For her, Special Olympics Colorado is more than an organization—it’s a family and a platform where she continues to thrive and lead by example.

Matthew Mueller, the 2025 Special Olympics Colorado Male Athlete of the Year, has been part of the movement since its start. He began competing in 1969—the same year Special Olympics Colorado was founded—and even met Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the organization’s founder.

Over more than five decades, Matthew has exemplified the spirit of a lifelong athlete, competing in swimming, track and field, bocce, and bowling. Known for his enthusiasm, dedication, and sportsmanship, he has inspired generations of athletes, families, and coaches.

Matthew’s journey reflects the power of sport to create connection, build community, and celebrate inclusion. We are proud to honor his 50+ years of persistence, positivity, and impact—on and off the field.

Karen Kiefer, our 2025 Coach of the Year, is a cornerstone of Team Powderhorn and the Special Olympics community on the Western Slope. For over a decade, she has coached alpine skiing with unmatched dedication—coordinating transportation, managing logistics, and ensuring every athlete feels safe, supported, and ready to succeed.

Before joining Team Powderhorn, Karen spent 30+ years volunteering with Colorado Discover Ability and teaching adaptive physical education, introducing countless athletes to the slopes and supporting them at Special Olympics events across sports.

Known as the team’s “go-to” person, Karen is part coach, part organizer, part mom. From driving the team van to planning meals and ordering jackets, she brings patience, kindness, and a tireless spirit to everything she does.

We are proud to honor Karen for her extraordinary leadership, heart, and years of unwavering commitment.

For more than 30 years, Patti Rizzo has been a dedicated champion of Special Olympics Colorado, giving her time, energy, and heart to support athletes and events in countless ways. As a coach, Unified partner in multiple sports, and a key member of the Games Organizing Committee, she plays a vital role in planning and executing events, including the annual State Bowling competition. Whether serving as an event-day volunteer or stepping in wherever needed, Patti’s kindness, compassion, and commitment shine through. She embodies the true spirit of Special Olympics—spreading joy, fostering inclusion, and making a lasting impact on everyone she meets.

Greg Leonard has been a driving force behind Special Olympics Colorado, dedicating his time, leadership, and passion to the movement in countless ways. Inspired by his daughter Amanda, a Special Olympics athlete, Greg got involved nearly 30 years ago and over that time has served this organization in almost every capacity possible.

A committed year-round coach in both aquatics and skiing, Greg pushes his athletes to train harder, reach new heights, and grow in all aspects of life in and out of competition. His dedication extends beyond coaching—he has been a champion of inclusion, tirelessly working to create opportunities for athletes to thrive.

As General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Denver, Greg has leveraged his leadership to engage his work colleagues in transformative ways. From hosting the Hall of Fame Luncheon to rallying support for fundraising events like the Polar Plunge and Plane Pull, he has inspired colleagues locally and globally to embrace and support the mission of Special Olympics Colorado. His efforts to foster inclusion in both the workplace and the broader community are unparalleled.

A visionary leader, Greg served on the Special Olympics Colorado Board of Directors for nearly a decade and now continues his impact as a Director Emeritus. His strategic thinking, leadership acumen, and deep passion for the mission have helped shape the organization’s direction and growth.

For Greg, Special Olympics isn’t just a cause—it’s family. Alongside his wife Jenny and their daughters, he has woven Special Olympics into every part of his life and his impact is immeasurable. We are profoundly grateful for his commitment to the athletes and mission of Special Olympics Colorado.

Special Olympics Colorado’s Unified Champion Schools program strives to foster inclusivity by breaking down barriers between students with and without intellectual disabilities, creating a unified culture that supports all students. Smoky Hill High School exemplifies this mission, not only embracing the Unified Champion Schools program but also making it a cornerstone of their school community.

Smoky Hill has cultivated a culture of true inclusion, where all students are welcomed and celebrated in every facet of school life—on the field, in the classroom, and through school-wide events. They consistently compete at high level unified sports every season,  and even started a Smoky Hill “Alumni” team for students after they graduate.

Smoky Hill’s dedication to promoting inclusion extends beyond sports, as the school regularly attends Youth Leadership Summits and speaks at Special Olympics Colorado Conferences and Coach Summits.  This school is committed to enduring sustainability with active involvement in fundraising events such as the Polar Plunge and Plane Pull.

As a proud National Banner School recipient in both 2019 and 2023, Smoky Hill continues to lead by example with initiatives like students with disabilities serving on the Principal Advisory Committee, where they meet twice a month to provide student-driven feedback on school decisions. In short, Smoky Hill High School is a beacon “Unified School”, and a leader in the Inclusion Revolution!

For their unwavering dedication to creating an inclusive school climate, where every student feels valued and empowered, Special Olympics Colorado is thrilled to name Smoky Hill High School the 2025 “Chaka Sutton” Unified Champion School of the Year.

In conjunction with Ability Connection of Colorado- Creative Options started implementing Young Athletes in 2011.  They currently serve approximately 325 students with and without disabilities in 20 classrooms across 5 different sites and have approximately 60 trained YA Coaches.   They have become a model program taking advantage of all that Young Athletes has to offer while advocating for more schools within the area to get involved.  They facilitate the inclusive Young Athletes activities 3-4 times per week ensuring that each child has ample time to practice, build confidence and develop their gross motor and socialization skills throughout the school year.  Each site also values parent involvement and encourages their families utilize our family resources and to get involved in our community programming, ensuring that each child has the chance to reach their full potential.  They have also shown a commitment to creating environments of acceptance while facilitating individual development throughout their school by participating in other Unified Champion School initiatives such as our inclusion week where they engage the students and staff in multiple activities promoting respect and kindness.  They also took part in our Healthy Young Athletes resources that where available by teaching our Young Athletes Strong Minds lessons and providing mental health resources to their students in each classroom.