SALT LAKE CITY — The Organizing Committee for the Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Ken Garff for Good announce the launch of Utah 2034 Champion Schools, a statewide education program that brings the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements into Utah elementary schools. Champion Schools 34 is developed as a tool to utilize sport as a catalyst to teach values to youth and to bring positive impact to communities.
The inaugural Champion Schools 34 pilot will launch this fall in 72 elementary schools across seven school districts: Salt Lake City, Cache County, Granite, Iron County, North Sanpete, Duchesne County and Uintah County. The program is designed to strengthen literacy, increase school engagement, and inspire long-term academic participation and success.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games have the power to inspire people of all ages, and we want that inspiration to start reaching Utah’s young people long before 2034,” said Brad Wilson, CEO, Utah 2034. “Champion Schools 34 is an important part of our commitment to creating a lasting legacy by bringing the values of sport into classrooms across our state.”
The Champion Schools 34 digital platform is being developed by Ken Garff for Good, a Garff family foundation that has spent more than 20 years partnering with schools, educators, businesses, and community leaders to help students build bright futures. The Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation is a founding captain in Utah 2034’s innovative Podium34 program.
At the heart of Champion Schools 34 is the idea that we are all champions. The platform – an extension of the Ken Garff for Good Literacy Initiative – will feature lesson plans for teachers, book recommendations, motivational videos with Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and a way to track reading minutes to win prizes. Schools can also establish themselves as Champion Schools based on their students’ commitment to reading.
“By bringing the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement into our classrooms, we can help students understand that being a champion isn’t just about what happens on the playing field - it’s about showing up, working hard, respecting others, persevering through challenges, and believing in what you’re capable of,” said Amy Garff, Utah 2034 Education Committee chair. “We want every student to see themselves as a champion and recognize the role they can play in making their classroom and school stronger.”
Each month, participating schools will focus on a different value, and the platform’s activities will give students ways to explore each month’s theme both inside and outside the classroom. The program builds on the Olympic Values Education Program (OVEP), which is a series of free and accessible teaching resources developed by the International Olympic Committee. Using the context of Olympic sport and the Fundamental Principles of Olympism to complement school curriculum, the program has been implemented in 138 countries and reached more than 60 million young people worldwide. Its concepts will now be adapted into resources designed for Utah elementary schools.
“We know teachers are already doing incredible work to engage and inspire their students, so Champion Schools 34 is designed to complement what is happening in classrooms by working closely with our pilot districts, superintendents, principals and teachers to listen, learn and build a program that provides real value for schools and students,” said Erin Trenbeath-Murray, president, Ken Garff for Good. “This pilot gives us an opportunity to learn together and create a model that can grow to reach even more students in Utah and beyond.”
The Champion Schools 34 pilot represents the first phase of a broader education strategy being developed through Utah 2034’s Education Committee. The 16-member committee, chaired by Amy Garff, brings together leaders from education, business, nonprofit organizations and sport to guide statewide initiatives connecting students and educators to opportunities created along the road to the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
“Opening Ceremonies” to Celebrate Launch
To celebrate the launch, seven elementary schools will host “Opening Ceremonies” throughout September, bringing the excitement and traditions of the Olympic and Paralympic movements into their school communities.
Ceremonies will include activities such as torch relays, parades of classrooms, assemblies with Olympians and Paralympians, and more.
About Utah 2034
The Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, known as Utah 2034, is an independent Utah non-profit responsible for organizing the 2034 Winter Games in Utah. The bid for 2034 was awarded in July 2024. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah 2034’s vision centers around elevating sport, communities, and the Games. Its foundation is built on the rich sport legacy from 2002, which has positively impacted youth and communities and made Utah an international hub for winter sports. Utah 2034 is looking to use the Games to catalyze communities across the entire state of Utah, while boosting interest in winter sport across the nation. The Organizing Committee is governed by a 26-member Board, with advisory guidance from a Steering Committee and subcommittees.
About Ken Garff for Good
Through Ken Garff for Good, the Garff family has focused its philanthropic work on improving literacy outcomes and expanding pathways to higher education for Utah students. These efforts center on the belief that early reading proficiency is foundational to long-term academic achievement and that every student, regardless of background, should have a viable opportunity to pursue postsecondary education. The family’s education work supports schools, educators and community partners working toward measurable literacy gains and increased college and career readiness.