Simply The "Best"

Every Wednesday afternoon, George C. Marshall High School sophomore Lauren Sibley gets together with her friend Carter, to talk, play games and just hang out --things typical of high school classmates.

"It's nice to have quiet and that close connection," Sibley said.

But if it weren't for the Best Buddies program, the two probably would have never  met.

Carter, a special needs student, was matched with Sibley through Marshall High School's Best Buddies program, part of the global nonprofit Best Buddies organization that fosters one-on-one friendships between students and their intellectually or developmentally disabled peers. Marshall is one of 23 schools across the state that offers the Best Buddies program.

"You can see a student in the special-ed population who doesn't have any friends and as soon as you pair them up, you see them running around and saying 'Hi' to everyone, which is wonderful," said Sarah Pierson, the Best Buddies manager for Virginia.  "They're not sitting alone at lunch anymore and they're getting phone calls. It's the normal high school experience."

As a buddy, Sibley has committed the year to a one-to-one friendship, which requires her to have weekly contact in the form of e-mails or phone calls, lunch days in the cafeteria together, group activities with other buddy-pairs and just being a good friend.

"The positives of this program is that it helps you be a more accepting person," she said. "You see they are not different than us. They are just regular people who are lonely at times, and it makes me feel so good to be doing something and being a friend to them."

On Nov. 22, the Best Buddies program held its second annual potluck dinner at the school. Parents, faculty and buddies enjoyed a night of getting to know one another. There are 15 buddies paired at the school, and another 45 associate buddies who aren't paired one-on-one but still help with meetings and activities.

"We do this potluck to introduce the parents of the buddies and peer buddies to get the relationship started for the year, so we can develop some friendships and hang out with everyone after school," said junior Carrie Zettler, president of the Marshall chapter of Best Buddies. "This night has been a big success and we hope to continue this into the future."

Sophomore Mandy Kousen said she has been involved with helping special education kids all her life and is thrilled to be a part of the Marshall program.

"I heard about this organization and fell in love with this program," she said. "This year I have a friend named Sheridan and she is a blast to be around and I enjoy hanging out with her and seeing her smile."

The buddies will also get together as a group for events like cookie decorating or to attend movies or sporting events outside of the school.

"It's a lot of fun to hang out with everyone and have a good time,"  junior Ryan Medrick said. "It's important that everyone feels like they belong to this school, and I think this helps that happen."