Best Buddies Celebrates Friendships with Halloween Party

The annual Best Buddies Halloween party was held on October 27, 2011. As the sixth event of the semester, all participants with the organization were eager to showcase their costumes and dance moves.

Best Buddies is an organization that initiates and encourages one-on-one friendships between college students and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. College students in this organization are paired with "buddies" at the beginning of each year and meet with them at least once a week. In addition, there is at least one special event each month where all of the buddies participate.

Already this semester, Best Buddies has held many events including: a meet-and-greet with the football team, an ice cream social, and a cookout. The organization has also participated in campus events such as Operation InAsMuch and the homecoming parade.

The Halloween party was held at the group home, where many of the buddies live. The house was packed with members of the buddies' families and friends, as well as some special guests from the Best Buddies program in Sevierville. Everyone was dressed in unique costumes that included a frog, Scooby Doo, and several inmates. There was a costume contest held, in which many of the buddies were awarded a ribbon to flaunt their achievement. All of the buddies were excited to be surrounded by all of their friends and showed off on the dance floor.

Best Buddies plans to continue to build life-long friendships through many other events this semester including line dancing and a Christmas party. Events next semester include the annual spring prom and Buddy Idol.