Best Buddies founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver is a popular club in high schools throughout the nation.  With approximately 70 members,  it also is an especially poplar club at University.

   What attracts students to the club is the chance to do something good for someone else.

  “Honestly, I do feel differently about Best Buddies than any other club that I’ve been in because I feel that I’m really doing something for a good cause,” said junior Ryan Betancourt.

    Basically, the purpose of the Best Buddies club is to promote relationships between students with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD) and other students.

     Most club members find that it is fun to hang out with students that aren’t exactly like them. 

   “Even though we just started the club this year, it’s nice meeting some of the buddies. They are very interesting and fun to be around, not to mention how creative they can be,” said freshmen Anamarie Gorajuria.

    Some of the activities that club members do include face painting, making bracelets, and sometimes just talking about a subject they both find interesting.

     The organization also has a lot of get-togethers. On October 31, Best Buddies had a fall festival between first, second and third period.  There were activities such as pumpkin carving.  

    Running a club with 70 members is a difficult job but club sponsor Mrs. Kimeche Carmichael enjoys the job.

“I like it. It’s a lot of work but still fun,” said Mrs. Carmichael.

   Mrs. Carmichael also mentioned that building relationships is what the Best Buddies club is all about.

   It [the club’s activities] is about run and loving. The opportunity to work with students that aren’t like you can be a lot of fun because you show lots of love while being a true friend,” commented Mrs. Carmichael.

    Several members mentioned that being a member of Best Buddies offers a unique and invaluable opportunity to students. Best Buddies, not only provides people with IDD the opportunity make friends with other students who  otherwise would not get the chance to meet other people, it also gives students who are not disabled to learn about and learn to value people who are who are not like them.