Members of the Best Buddies Program stand outside Rhea County Executive Offices after Proclamation Declaring August 17th, Best Buddies Day.(Photo:Submitted)
Rhea County High School Honored as the Overall Most Outstanding High Schol at 2023 Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Bloomington, Indiana. Rhea County Executive Declares August 17, Best Buddies Day.
Bloomington, Indiana – July 31, 2023
The Best Buddies school chapter at Rhea County High School in Evensville, Tennessee, was presented with the 2022-2023 Overall Outstanding Chapter Award at the 2023 Best Buddies Leadership Conference: Reunited for Inclusion. Rhea County High School (RCHS) was selected from a pool of several finalist Best Buddies high school programs from around the world.
Best Buddies International is a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). After three years of virtual Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC), BBLC returned to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with this year’s event theme being Reunited for Inclusion. The leadership conference prepared student leaders to operate the Best Buddies chapters at their schools, which involves recruiting new members, planning group activities for their chapters and promoting social integration for people with IDD. The Best Buddies chapter at Rhea County High School, which has 140 participants, was started in 2021. Best Buddies Tennessee currently operates 90 chapters in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges.
“I instantly became a fan of the RCHS chapter; it was apparent that they were a special group,” Will Macon, Best Buddies Tennessee's state director, said. “Their impact on their community is undeniable and astounding. At their senior celebration this spring, the culture of inclusion was palpable: students, teachers, coaches and community members attended to support and celebrate the chapter. The chapter’s influence extends beyond the school, as they have discussed employment opportunities for students with IDD with local business leaders. As the only high school in the county, RCHS is often the epicenter of the community, with Best Buddies being the heartbeat of that epicenter."
Nearly 2,000 students, leaders, volunteers and staff members, representing Canada, Chile, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey and the United States traveled to participate in the conference, on July 21-24. Students, selected to participate in the conference for their active leadership roles within Best Buddies, attended a series of interactive workshops focusing on leadership development, community service, civic responsibility, IDD and volunteerism. The leadership conference was livestreamed and showcased the amazing performances, speakers and education sessions that took place this year.
About the Best Buddies Program:
Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from
one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ nine formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters and Inclusive Living— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 49 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly 1 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or instagram.com/bestbuddies.
Proclamation from Rhea County Executive Declaring August 17th as Best Buddies Day.
