Cailey Craig

Major: Child Development and Family Services, and minoring in Trauma Psychology

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact: "I love to bake anything homemade for my friends and family."

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because it shows the power of friendship, inclusion, and making sure everyone feels like they belong."

Ella Kimball

Major: Social Work

Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia

Fun Fact: "I am attending the LSU MSW program in the fall."

Why Best Buddies Matters to Me: "Best Buddies matters to me because inclusion creates a sense of belonging where everyone feels valued. This club has allowed me to make friendships that will last a lifetime."

Nicolas Hage

Major: Economics and Personal Finance

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact: "I was vice president of my high school's Best Buddies club for 2 years."

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because it is so important to choose to include and make a space for everyone to thrive. This club has been near and dear to my heart, dating all the way back to my freshman year of high school."

Taylor Hoagan

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact: "I was a partner on the Unified Bocce team at my high school during my junior and senior years."

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to feel included and valued. Through Best Buddies, I have made some of the sweetest and most meaningful friendships."

Lindsay Tetrick

Major: Exercise Physiology

Hometown: Braxton, West Virginia 

Fun Fact: "I love ice cream."

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because building real friendships that promote inclusion, kindness, and a sense of belonging for everyone is important."

Cierra Faulstick

Major: Elementary Education, minoring in Special Education, Child Development, and Family Studies

Hometown: Wheeling, West Virginia

Fun Fact: "I love to travel and to read."

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because I care deeply about inclusion, and this organization is all about that! It reminds me how important connection an kindnesscan be in building a community where everyone feels valued and loved! Additionally, I love meeting new people and making new friends!"

Mackenzie Dunphy

Major: Multidisciplinary Studies, with an emphasis in Criminology, Psychology, and Forensic Investigative Sciences

Hometown: Stafford, Virginia

Fun Fact: 

Why Best Buddies Matters to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because it gives people an opportunity to make meaningful connections with others. These connections that are being made are incredible. My brother has a learning disability, and I wanted to join in support of him. I think Best Buddies benefits many people, not just individuals with IDDs but also their buddy pairs. It is a great organization to be a part of. I hope I can make a difference."

Maggie Kane

Major: Social Work

Hometown: Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact: "I love being outside and in nature."

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because I have family members and friends with IDD that I've watched being treated differently just because of their disability, and I want to be a part of change that builds a world that includes and caters to everyone." 

Evan Douek

Major: Senior in the Country Roads Program

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Fun Fact: "I want to do something horticulture-related, like landscaping."

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "What I like about Best Buddies is hanging out and making new friends, doing events, helping out with events as an officer, and going on the Friendship Walk."

Regan Rizzo

Major: Health and Wellbeing, with a minor in disability studies. 

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact: "I'm going to grad school to get my master's in occupational therapy." 

Why Best Buddies Matter to me? "Best Buddies matters to me because inclusion is important. Everyone deserves to be included regardless of their differences."