CBS 58's Hometown Athlete: Hannah Christianson, creator of Unified Sports, passes on the baton
BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Hannah Christianson played basketball at Brookfield East for four seasons
"I look back at my teammates. And my coach," Hannah Christianson says. "I had a great experience. Our practices were a lot of fun. We were building each other up the whole time."
The Spartans won conference four straight years. Hannah has a 4.5 GPA. But that's not her greatest achievement.
"Well Hannah, if you talk about a total four-year impact?" Brookfield East Athletic and Activities Director Ben Westphal says. "Not only in the classroom. But in athletics. In activities. Clubs. Principal's cabinet. Hope squad. And then as a sophomore? She came and we talked about the unified basketball and wanted to start Unified Sports. So, the total 4-year impact? I can't think of someone who's had a better impact than that."
Hannah has a brother, Connor, with special needs. That, plus caring for others, spurred her to create Unified Sports - inclusive for those with and without disabilities.
"It was kind of instilled in me from a young age," Christianson says. "My parents when I was younger were like what are some things you can do to make someone's day. So that mindset from kindergarten on. I always taught like, you're gonna do something kind for someone else."
Beginning her sophomore year - It grew. And grew. And grew.
"Yeah, the last game? I mean we had a packed gym," Christianson says. "We had to get seating to fill. Like there was not an inch of room. So, it's really neat."
Now graduated and getting ready to attend school at Boston College - Hannah has passed the baton for others to continue her legacy.
"I get to see the simple joy and happiness that these individuals bring into our lives," Christianson says. "And it's really neat. I've been able to build relationships with these individuals and my peers have. And it's brought together our whole school community in ways that I didn't even think was possible."
"A credit to Hannah," Westphal says. "She has brought others along. Underclassmen along with her, that's going to carry on a lot of what she started. And I don't think we've heard the last from her."