As local high schools prepare to send off another graduating class, Hillcrest High senior Abbi Clark leaves behind a lasting impact shaped not only by academics and athletics, but by connection and inclusion. 

During her four high school years as a peer tutor and Special Olympics unified partner, Clark has helped build a community where students of all abilities belong and feel seen and, in the process, she has found her own path.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but at Union Middle School, when I started peer tutoring, I started thinking about special education,” she said. “But definitely during my high school years, it’s confirmed this is what I want to do.”

That clarity didn’t happen in one single moment, but years of showing up, walking with students to classrooms, studying with one another, eating lunch and going to school dances together.  Clark said it is a natural connection with the students she works with, rooted in trust and understanding.

“I feel I’m able to understand them more and see what they’re getting at most of the time. I have an energy that is calming and they’re able to relax and know I’ll include them and not judge them,” she said.

The camaraderie extends to unified sports, where students with and without intellectual disabilities play side by side as teammates on the field and court. Clark, who also plays on the school’s girls varsity basketball and volleyball teams, said the experience reshaped what sports truly mean.

“In unified sports, it’s not about just the win, it’s about the experience and about the joy of the sport. The result, win or lose, doesn’t really matter as much as the opportunity to learn and play with friends,” she said.

Clark’s perspective has influenced how she plays and how she leads. As both a player and a student who helps run practices, she learned to prioritize patience and selflessness.

In the February 2026 girls’ varsity game at Taylorsville High, Hillcrest’s Abbi Clark battles for the rebound. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

 “You can’t expect quick results, and you can’t be selfish if you want to do this,” she said.

Unified sports statewide, as well as at Hillcrest, have grown during Clark’s time. 

For example, across Utah high schools, unified basketball has grown to more than 250 Utah high school unified teams this year, up from 2023, when Clark was a freshman, when it had skyrocketed to a record 73 teams. Hillcrest grew from two unified teams to four playing soccer and three competing in basketball. Additionally, the high school played a season of flag football and another of track and field.

“We’ve had more teams, more partners and even more community support,” she said, adding Hillcrest’s band, student body officers, Latinos In Action student club, the Husky mascot and other classmates continue to cheer for the unified teams, which has brought smiles to the athletes. “We’ve had classes that come and clap us out as we get on our bus; it makes the kids feel extra special.”

Clark said those moments signify a deeper meaning; it is part of belonging.

“For them, it’s a great place to feel safe, especially in this world where not everybody accepts them. By having a place where they feel accepted and a place where they can succeed, it’s a great thing for them to feel that sense of belonging,” she said.

But Clark is quick to point out she’s learned just as much, if not more, from the students she supports.

“A lot of times, people think that unified sports is all the partners teaching and all the athletes learning, but it’s really the opposite,” she said. “The partners learn a lot about teamwork and about selflessness and patience.”

One of those influences is junior Javier Garcia, a teammate and friend.

“He’s taught me so much about how to live life to the fullest,” Clark said. “He’s so selfless and he loves so deeply.”

Through those friendships, Clark said she’s learned to slow down and appreciate what really matters.

“I’ve learned from doing unified sports, it’s simple actions that are actually influential, and how impactful they are,” she said. “They’re so excited for each other when they score a goal or make a basket. It’s the simple things that mean a lot to them, and those bring a smile to everyone’s faces.”

That mindset has stayed through Clark’s athletic endeavors, serving as the student body secretary and taking concurrent enrollment college classes, all while maintaining a 3.95 GPA.

“It’s about deciding what’s most important and unified is one of my top priorities,” she said. “There’s little I won’t drop to go to unified.”

Hillcrest High special education teacher Rebecca Remy said Clark is one of the most inclusive peer tutors she has had in her 22 years of teaching.

In the February 2026 girls’ varsity game at Taylorsville High, Hillcrest’s Abbi Clark battles for the rebound. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“She has spearheaded all the unified events and activities,” Remy said. “I don’t ask her to do it; she just does it without taking any credit. She puts her heart into everything. Abbi forms genuine friendships with the students; she is passionate about inclusion and special education kids with disabilities.”

This summer, after graduation, Clark will serve a church mission in Gilbert, Arizona before returning to study special education at Utah Valley University.

Clark, who wants to stay involved with Special Olympics, doesn’t measure her high school experience in wins, but in relationships.

“Unified sports has taught me about living my life to the fullest,” she said. “It’s taught me to love others and how to include everyone. Unified sports has been my highlight, and it’s been my rock through the ups and downs. All the amazing people who are in unified have helped me more than they know. Unified is something I never want to stop doing.”λ