Milpitas Elementary Olympics Returns May 17th — A Celebration of Community, Culture, and Childhood Joy

A Tradition Revived. A Community United. A Childhood Dream Rekindled.
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, something truly special is happening in Milpitas. The Milpitas Unified School District will proudly host the Milpitas Elementary Olympics (MEO)—a high-energy day filled with school spirit, friendly competition, and community pride. For me personally, this year’s MEO holds even more meaning—it's taking place on the same day as my 25th wedding anniversary, and I couldn’t imagine a more joyful way to start the day than with the city I love, in celebration of our youth. 

The MEO isn’t just an athletic event. It’s a symbol of who we are as a school district and city—diverse, proud, united and competitive. As a Joseph Weller Elementary 6th grader, I competed in the 440-yard relay and 110-yard dash. I’ll never forget the moment our team stood on the podium, gold and silver medals around our necks, placed there by Principal Mr. Shiba himself. That moment stayed with me—and it’s why I’m grateful to the community, city, and school district for reviving MEO in 2018 after a 30+-year hiatus.

And now, it’s fast becoming a Milpitas tradition once again.

Celebrating the Spirit of Milpitas
Milpitas has always been a richly diverse community. I grew up with friends from all over the world. We played together, ate together, competed together, and yes, rushed home when the street lights came on (or faced the consequences!). That same spirit lives on today—our district families are active athletically, artistically, and academically. Milpitas residents speak over 52 different languages. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

The MEO captures that spirit. It brings together students, educators, coaches, and families from all 10 MUSD elementary schools—Burnett, Curtner, Mattos, Pomeroy, Randall, Rose, Sinnott, Spangler, Weller, and Zanker—for a full day of Olympic-style events that emphasize physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
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What to Expect on May 17th
📍 Location: Milpitas High School
🕗 Start Time: 8:00 AM Parade of Student Athletes
🎙️ Opening Remarks: MUSD Leadership
🏃 Competitions: 5 Hours of Track & Field, Relays, and Team Games
🎉 Attendees: Students, families, educators, local leaders, and YOU
This year, we’re calling on former MUSD students, alumni, and Milpitas residents past and present to come cheer on the next generation. Let’s celebrate the power of community and public education—together.

Did You Know?
The first Milpitas Elementary Olympics was announced in fall 1976, during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration—marking 200 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That Olympic year, Milpitas joined the national spirit of reflection and renewal. At the time, James H. Clement served as Mayor, later succeeded by Robert E. Browne, and Peter McHugh would soon become Milpitas’ first directly elected mayor.
Milpitas has always been deeply connected to America’s founding ideals—unity, opportunity, and freedom—and the MEO is a modern continuation of that legacy.

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Milpitas Has Produced Two (2) United States Olympians
🏓 Kanak Jha – Table Tennis ProdigyBorn in Milpitas in 2000, Kanak Jha is a three-time Olympian in table tennis, having competed in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics. He made history in 2016 as the youngest American athlete at the Rio Games and the first U.S. Olympian born in the 2000s. Jha is a five-time U.S. national champion and won a bronze medal at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

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​​Jacklyn Luu - Artistic Swimming Medalist
Jacklyn Luu, born in Milpitas in 1999, is an accomplished artistic swimmer. She began her journey with the Milpitas Tidal Waves. Luu competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she helped Team USA secure a silver medal in the team event—the country's first in artistic swimming since 2004.

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MEO Produces National Champion - Eunice Lee 5x National Jump Rope Champion
Eunice Lee won two consecutive gold medals in the Milpitas Elementary Olympics in 2018 and 2019. Her family agreed that Eunice Lee may have a talent for jump-roping. They were right. Eunice Lee won her fifth national jump-roping champion title this past June at the 2024 American Jump Rope National Championship at Salt Lake City in Utah. She completed her fourth national championship run with a gold medal in Single Rope Speed Endurance, the title of U.S. Junior Individual All- Around Champion, and the title of Grand National Jump Rope Champion.

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MEO Olympian In Training
In 2024, Caleb Guglielmelli, a standout student-athlete from Marshall Pomeroy Elementary school qualified for 6 events in the National Jr Olympics in Texas.

Come Be Part of the Legacy
Bring your kids, bring your cameras, bring your cheers. Whether you’re an MUSD graduate, a lifelong resident, or just discovering what makes Milpitas special—this event is for you. Let’s honor the past, support the present, and inspire the future—one relay race at a time.
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💬 “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

It takes a Community!
Thank you to our sponsors over the years! Without them, the MEO would not be possible.

• 2025 Sponsors: Diversified Mortgage Group, Simon Property Group, Republic Services, Milpitas Community Education Foundation, Mil’s Diner, Krucial Printing, Rogue Timing, PEL Learning Centers. (Note: All food trucks donate % of profits back to the MEO.)
• 2024 Sponsors: Diversified Mortgage Group, Republic Services, Milpitas Community Education Foundation, Mil’s Diner, Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, KLA Foundation, i-Ready. 
• 2023 Sponsors: Blach Construction, KLA Foundation, i-Ready

#MilpitasOlympics #CultureOfWe #MUSDPride #CommunityInMotion #MEO2025

In community,

Chris Norwood
2025 MUSD Board of Education President
2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year

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