Enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities
The Best Buddies chapter at Brigham Young University was presented with an Outstanding Chapter Award at Best Buddies International’s 16th Annual Student Leadership Conference in July.
BYU was chosen as one of 27 outstanding high school and college chapters from more than 800 programs throughout the world for its dedication to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.
“We are very proud of BYU and this distinguished accomplishment,” said Dan Aamodt, Utah director of Best Buddies International. “This is a very deserving award, as these fine students worked diligently in 2004 to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.”
More than 1,200 students representing the United States, Australia, South America, Egypt, Africa, Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and Sweden traveled to Indiana University to participate in the three-day conference.
Working under the theme of “Unlimited,” these students, selected for their active leadership roles within Best Buddies, attended a series of interactive workshops focusing on leadership development, community service, civic responsibility, intellectual disabilities and volunteerism.
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,000 middle school, high school and college chapters across the country and internationally that positively affect more than 250,000 individuals.
For more information regarding the award or how to participate in Best Buddies, contact BYU faculty adviser Michelle Marchant at (801) 422-1238.
Writer: James McCoy
