Sammi Stewart, MPPA ’15
Outstanding Young Alumni
Samantha Stewart: An Advocate for Equity
Each year, the Cal Lutheran Alumni Board of Directors recognizes achievements that have brought honor and distinction to the university. The Outstanding Young Alumni Award is given to a graduate of the last decade for distinguished career achievements or humanitarian endeavors dedicated to social reform. Samantha Stewart, ’15, is the recipient of the 2025 Cal Lutheran Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
A Personal Passion
A tireless advocate for inclusivity, Samantha Stewart has dedicated her life and career to ensuring children with disabilities feel valued. Her passion is personal; as a teen mother, Stewart fought for her intellectually disabled son to be treated with dignity and respect. Today, as an Adapted Physical Education Specialist and PE Teacher, Stewart brings together students with and without disabilities to compete on unified teams at sporting events—an experience that touches the lives of everyone involved.
“My goal is to demonstrate to young people that everyone has value, everyone can contribute in some way,” said Stewart. “These unified teams foster inclusion and plant the seed that equity must be a priority.”
A Unifying Force
Early in her teaching career, Stewart taught dance and physical education in Tucson, Arizona. When she couldn’t find a bowling team for her then-8-year-old son, Stewart launched a unified bowling team for students with and without disabilities. She has called Southern California home for more than a decade and remains a beloved teacher and advocate in the Conejo Valley Unified School District, where her boundless energy and optimism have left an indelible impression on her students and fellow educators.
Stewart also was Head Coach and Head of Delegation for several unified teams in the Special Olympics, including a bowling team—dubbed 2 Legit 2 Split—a track and field team, and a gold medal-winning golf team. Inspired by her mother, who was actively involved in the Special Olympics during Stewart’s formative years, Stewart carried on the tradition of cultivating an environment of positivity, equity and community among Special Olympics athletes, families and volunteers. In addition, Stewart has been a Girl Scout Troop Leader for 15 years, donating her time and energy to providing new learning opportunities for young girls.
A Commitment to Equity
Stewart earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Northern Arizona University and her master’s degree in public policy and administration from Cal Lutheran. Through the MPPA program, Stewart learned to leverage policy and advocacy efforts to make the joy of sports more accessible through adapted physical education.
“I believe I was put on this earth to advocate,” said Stewart. “My education at CLU gave me the tools to affect change and create a more inclusive experience for people with disabilities.”
Among her many accolades, Stewart most recently was named National Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 2023 by the Society of Health and Physical Educators. She also was named a Conejo Valley Unified School District Inclusion Hero.