Best Buddies kicked off the 2009-2010 school year on Tuesday with their Matching Party. It took place in the faculty cafeteria from 6-8. Both the kids with special needs (and their parents) and the peer buddies attended the event to find out who exactly is their buddy this year.

The function began in the faculty cafeteria. Then the buddies went outside into the common area while the faculty sponsors talked to the parents about what the program is all about. The buddies participated in activities where everyone got to know all the peer buddies and vice versa.

They then began the process when pairs found out who their buddies were this year. All of the kids were given parts of an ice cream shaped piece of paper. It had a flavor and their name written on it as well. The kids with special needs then needed to match the flavor of ice cream with the peer buddy who had the same flavor ice cream. The whole process took around 40 minutes.

After that it was time to go back into the cafeteria and get to know the new buddies. They also made ice cream sundaes at a make it yourself sundae bar. It gave all the buddies time to get to know each other and bond.

“It was great,” said Vice President Kelly Sherman, “Everyone was ecstatic with their matches.”

The next Best Buddies event is the Halloween Party on October 25, 2009 from 5-7 P.M. in the Alumni Lounge.