All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Best Buddies went to Homecoming together in September. Pictured are Audrey Robinson, Jake Hostelley, Joséphine Briggs, Ashley Flores, Sofia Keronen, Cassie Eickmann, Natalie Carrillo, Taylor Tiegen, Ethan Withnell, and Amy Holle (teacher).
Best Buddies recruits new members at NHS "Club Rush." Pictured are Jack Frailey, Amy Holle (teacher), Joséphine Briggs, Tovah France (teacher), Sofia Keronen, Ethan Vertuca, Ashlee Wood, Cassie Eickmann, Audrey Robinson, Ms. Maritzah, and Jake Hostelley.
Niwot High School is host to over 60 student-run clubs, and one stand-out is the Best Buddies club.
In the words of Claire Jensen, vice-president of Best Buddies, "Best Buddies is a global organization that is devoted to promoting the friendships between students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and students without. We promote activism, acceptance, and education all while having lots of fun. Our club specifically focuses on one-to-one friendships between students outside of school, and we participate in plenty of fun activities during school as well."
Best Buddies Club, sponsored by NHS special education teacher Amy Holle, is full of passionate students who hope to go into career fields that involve people with disabilities, and students who enjoy spreading joy and creating lifelong friendships with others. Buddy pairs and "bonus buddies" go to meetings and participate in events that are both school related, and extracurricular.
President Joséphine Briggs and Vice President Jensen have organized events for all of the buddies to enjoy together. For example, at the beginning of their fall semester, they threw a "match party" at Cottonwood Farms where everyone learned who their buddy would be for the year. They also went to the Bee Hugger Farm, painted pottery at Crackpots, baked cookies together, and enjoyed a "spa night" together.
Best Buddies has a diverse membership that ranges from freshman to senior students with varying hobbies and interests. Best Buddies brings them all together with a common goal.
This year's buddy pairs are Audrey Robinson and Cassandra Eickmann, Emelia Hamlin and Jack Frailey, Joséphine Briggs and Sofia Keronen, Claire Jensen and Jake Hostelley, Vi Sparks and Emmett Vertuca, Natalie Fitches and Taylor Tiegen, and Chloe Manning and Natalie Carrillo. Alongside these pairs, this year's "bonus buddies" are Shaffer Piersol, Sofia Burks, Lillian Meschler, and Liz Robinson.
"We all love being part of Best Buddies because there is a need for inclusion, even right here at Niwot High School," wrote Jensen when asked why she enjoys being in Best Buddies. "Being able to promote friendship and joy is something that is so impactful as well."
Keep up with Best Buddies on Instagram (@niwotbb).
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