Best Buddies Georgia Buddy Beat! - March 2026

🧗➡️ Marching Into a Month That Matters

Dear Best Buddies in Georgia Schools Crew,

Happy March, Team BBGA!

March always feels special around this season. Not only are we celebrating Best Buddies Month, but we are also celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Both celebrations serve as a beautiful reminder of why this work matters so much. This is a month to celebrate friendship, belonging, leadership, and the incredible ways our students show up for one another every single day.

We also recognized Spread the Word Day on March 4, which was also our Buddy Director Appreciation Day. Honestly, I can’t think of a better pairing. Our Buddy Directors and student leaders with IDD bring so much heart, joy, personality, and leadership to this movement. They help shape the spirit of our work, and that is exactly why we launched a special social media campaign to celebrate our buddy leadership with IDD. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make that celebration so meaningful.

I also want to say thank you to everyone who joined us for Back to Best Buddies in Atlanta, Effingham County, and virtually. It meant so much to see our schools come together for community, learning, laughter, and a little re-energizing before the busy spring ahead. You all continue to remind me that Georgia has some of the most passionate, creative, and caring leaders anywhere.

I hope the Spread the Word and celebration month resources helped make this month a little easier and a little more fun. Also, if life got a little too busy, no worries at all! We’ve included all the key links throughout this newsletter so you can still jump in, celebrate, and keep the momentum going.

As we roll through March, I just want to say that we are one lucky bunch to have you in this community. You are the gold in this movement. Thank you for everything you do to make your schools more welcoming, more joyful, and more inclusive. The work you’re doing is real, it matters, and it is changing lives in ways you may not even fully realize yet.

We appreciate you more than you know!

With gratitude,
Doug Peters
Deputy Director, Programs
Best Buddies in Georgia

🧗March Motion: Turning Awareness into Action

March is a great time to lean into visibility awareness, celebration, and momentum. This month is all about lifting up the mission, energizing your chapter, and helping your school community see what Best Buddies is all about.

Here are a few focused steps for this month:

🧩 March To-Do List

✅ Celebrate Best Buddies Month
March is Best Buddies Month, which makes it the perfect time to spotlight your chapter and the impact of inclusion in your school community. Consider:

• Posting chapter photos or quotes on social media

• Sharing facts about Best Buddies in morning announcements or in the hallways

• Highlighting your buddy pairs, officers, or Buddy Directors

• Creating a bulletin board, hallway display, or school feature

✅ Participate in the Spread the Word Campaign
Use March as a chance to lead conversations about respect, belonging, and inclusive language. You can use this folder to:

• Use the Spread the Word activity guides and celebration resources

• Share your school’s activities online

• Encourage your chapter to participate in awareness and appreciation activities

• Recognize Buddy Director Appreciation Day and celebrate student leaders with IDD

✅ Meet with your officer team
Hold a short meeting to talk through:

• What your chapter wants to focus on during Best Buddies Month

• Friendship Walk and Buddy Ball plans

• Leadership transition and Chapter President recruitment

• What events or celebrations still need to be finalized this spring

✅ Consider hosting a fundraiser
March is a great time to raise awareness and raise support for your chapter. Try something simple and school-friendly, like:

• Candy grams or snack sales

• A restaurant give-back night

• Spirit wear or themed dress days

• A friendship-themed fundraiser tied to Friendship Walk

✅ Connect with Best Buddies staff
Keep us in the loop so we can support you well. This month, be sure to:

• Complete your Monthly Chapter Check-In Form

• Reach out by email, phone, text, or GroupMe if you need help, ideas, or encouragement

• Share your chapter’s March celebrations, photos, and wins to our Mission Moments Student Advisory Board at [email protected].

March is a powerful month in our movement. It gives us a chance to celebrate what makes Best Buddies special while continuing to build strong friendships, confident leaders, and welcoming communities.

Let’s make it visible, joyful, and full of purpose!

🚀Chapter President Recruitment for 2026–2027 Is Underway

Leadership season is here! Annual registration for the 2026–2027 school year is officially open, and we are excited to begin the process of identifying the next group of strong, mission-driven chapter leaders across Georgia.

📌 Important reminder: 
🏫This Chapter President Selection Process applies to high school and college chapters only.
🚌 Middle school chapters select their Chapter President candidate locally through school-based leadership.

If you need it again, we’ve reshared the Chapter President Recruitment Google Drive folder for high school and college chapters.

🗺️ Chapter Leadership Links

• Chapter President Information (High School + College)
  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R1NsxzccqUoYyQQS0BWLHE2nLbAkmv1p?usp=sharing

• 2026–2027 Best Buddies Leadership Application
  (CPs, Student Leaders, Host Site Coordinators, Faculty Advisors)
  www.bestbuddies.org/lead

🧰 What’s Inside the Recruitment Folder

Think of this as your chapter’s toolkit for the road ahead. Inside, you’ll find:

• A personalized recruitment flyer

• A general Chapter President flyer

• Interview questions

• A scoring rubric

🧭 How the Selection Process Works

Best Buddies International requires that all Chapter President candidates for high school and college chapters complete an interview with Best Buddies staff as part of the Standards of Excellence. In Georgia, we approach this collaboratively through joint interviews with Faculty Advisors, Host Site Coordinators (when applicable), and graduating Chapter Presidents, because your perspective helps us identify the leaders who will move the mission forward.

🏢 Host Site Note: Host sites are community based or school-related departments that serve individuals with IDD, and apply to private high school and college chapters. If your chapter uses a host site, please make sure your Host Site Coordinator also completes the 2026–2027 application at www.bestbuddies.org/lead for our records.

📅 Steps and Key Dates

1️⃣ Promote the Opportunity
Use the materials in your folder to spread the word. Share them at meetings, post flyers on campus, host information sessions, share on social media, and personally encourage strong candidates to apply.

2️⃣ Submit Applications by April 1
All candidates must apply at: www.bestbuddies.org/lead
⭐ BBGA Priority Deadline: March 1
⏰ Final BBI Deadline: April 1

Submitting earlier helps us keep interviews running smoothly across the state.

3️⃣ Interview Process (April–May)
By Thursday, April 2, Doug will share your applicant list and ask whether you prefer in-person or virtual interviews. Interviews are one hour and scheduled through:
👉 www.calendly.com/bbgaprograms

If candidates apply by in the month of March, we can begin scheduling even sooner. If travel and schedules do not align, we will move forward with a high-energy virtual interview to keep the process moving.

4️⃣ Final Selection by June 1
Chapter President selections will be made collaboratively, and Best Buddies staff will finalize the decision in BB360.

✅ Quick Reminders

• Faculty Advisors and Host Site Coordinators: Applications do not roll over from last year. Please complete the 2026–2027 application at www.bestbuddies.org/lead before June.

• Returning Chapter Presidents: If you plan to apply again, you may still apply and interview, but you may not participate in the CP selection process. Prior service does not automatically guarantee selection.

• Other Student Leaders: These roles are traditionally selected by the incoming Chapter President with Faculty Advisor guidance. Students can still apply through www.bestbuddies.org/lead.

🌍 Leadership Conference Requirement

All selected Chapter Presidents must attend Best Buddies Leadership Conference:
📅 July 17–20, 2026
📍 Indiana University

• Cost: $400 plus round-trip travel

• Support: Financial assistance for travel is available through Best Buddies International at www.bestbuddies.org/bblc

Because Leadership Conference is a required training experience, the ability to attend may directly impact a student’s candidacy. More details will be shared during our upcoming BBLC parent information call series. Thank you!

👟 BBGA Friendship Walk 2026: Toolkit, Contests, & Big Goals

Friendship Walk season is officially here, and we are getting ready for one of the most joyful, high-energy, and meaningful parts of the year! We hope you join us for a chance for your chapter to show school spirit, celebrate inclusion out loud, and be part of something bigger than yourselves.

Whether you come for the fun, the friendships, the fundraising, or all of the above, Friendship Walk is one of the best ways to bring your school community together around the Best Buddies mission.

🎒 Your 2026 BBGA Friendship Walk Toolkit Is Ready

We’ve made it easy for your chapter to jump in and promote your team! Inside your toolkit, you’ll find:

• Social media graphics personalized for your school

• Posters for hallways, classrooms, and common spaces

• Fundraising ideas plus the Student Advisory Board Fundraising Toolkit

• A Friendship Walk Coordinator Guide and Team Captain tools

• Reusable templates to help you advertise your team with confidence

Everything is built to help your school spread the word, get people excited, and make your Walk presence feel big.

📍 BBGA Friendship Walk Dates – Atlanta & Coastal Georgia

BBGA Atlanta Friendship Walk
📍 Chamblee Charter High School, North DeKalb Stadium
3688 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341
📅 Sunday, April 26, 2026 – 1:00 PM
🕐 Check-in 1:00 PM | Opening 2:00 PM | Walk 2:30 PM
🔗 https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/atlanta/

BBGA Coastal Georgia Friendship Walk
📍 Josh Riddick Stadium at the Clarence E. Morgan Complex
1750 GA-21 S, Springfield, GA 31329
📅 Sunday, May 3, 2026
🕐 Check-in 1:45 PM | Opening 2:30 PM | Walk 3:00 PM
🔗 https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/coastalgeorgia/

🎁 Win BIG by Fundraising!

As your school team raises money, you can unlock fun incentives along the way, including:

• Incentives from Best Buddies International

• Shoutout packs and custom banners

• “Doug Delivers” snack drops

• BBLC registration and Falcons tickets

• VIP Walk perks and pep rally fun

And for the top fundraising chapter? The rewards get even better:

• Design the official BBLC 2026 T-shirt

• Receive an end-of-year party

• Serve as the host site for Leadership Training Day 2026

• And yes… earn the legendary opportunity to pie Doug in the face at Friendship Walk 🥧

🧭 Pro Tip: Pick a Friendship Walk Captain

Choose a Friendship Walk Captain or small leadership team to help with registration, promotion, and fundraising. A little organization goes a long way, and having students lead the charge can make the whole experience more fun and more impactful.

Every step, every registration, and every dollar raised helps us open more chapters, train more leaders, and create more spaces where students with and without IDD can thrive together.

Let’s show up strong, bring the energy, and make Friendship Walk 2026 one to remember!

🌍 BBLC 2026 Is Calling: Let’s Get Team Georgia Ready!

Registration for Best Buddies Leadership Conference 2026 is now open! It’s time to start thinking about who from your school will represent Team Georgia in Indiana this summer.

📅 July 17–20, 2026
📍 Indiana University – Bloomington

BBLC is one of the biggest and most exciting experiences of the year. It gives students and advisors the chance to build leadership skills, grow their confidence, connect with the larger Best Buddies movement, and bring fresh ideas back to their chapter.

Here are a few easy steps you can take this month to get things moving:

✅ Make your BBLC interest list
Think about the students and adults who could represent your school well, including Chapter Presidents, student leaders, advisors, Ambassadors, and peer buddies who consistently show up and live the mission.

✅ Start building your BBLC fund
Choose one simple spring fundraiser to get the ball rolling. Spirit days, snack sales, and give-back nights can add up quickly.

✅ Start sharing the why
Let your families, staff, and supporters know that BBLC is not just a trip. It is leadership training, chapter inspiration, and a chance to be part of something bigger.

⚠️ Important Reminders
BBLC attendance is required for all high school and college chapters.

Our expectation is that the Chapter President attends. If the Chapter President cannot attend whatsoever, then a Faculty Advisor or another student leader must attend in their place if they are selected to lead for 2026-2027. Every high school and college chapter must have representation this year.

We are currently working on proposed flight itineraries and will share those details in the next few weeks, along with our upcoming parent information calls and optional virtual social events.

Also, please note that the Coca-Cola Future Careers opportunity is now closed. Thank you to everyone who completed the course and participated!

If your chapter is unsure where to start, please reach out. We are happy to strategize to help you make a realistic plan to attend.

🪩 Buddy Ball 2026 is Almost Here!

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Lace up your freshest kicks! Cedar Grove Buddy Ball and BBGA: Sneaker Ball is coming soon, and it’s going to be a great time you don’t want to miss!

📍 Cedar Grove High School
📅 Saturday, March 21, 2026
🕕 6:00 p.m.

Expect:
 • 🎶Music
• 📸 Photo ops
• 🫶 Good energy
• 👟 Sneakers front and center

Make it fun for your chapter!
• Pick a chapter look like matching colors, hats, glow sticks, or friendship bracelets
• Plan rides and support early
• Show up ready to celebrate your friendships, your leadership, and all the work your chapter has put in this year

Buddy Ball is a celebration of everything Best Buddies stands for. Our hope is for Buddy Ball to become a Best Buddies in Georgia tradition, rotating between host schools each year. If your chapter is interested in hosting in the future, feel free to reach out so we can start exploring what that could look like!

🌟Buddy Spotlight: Celebrating Our Buddy Directors

This month, we’re celebrating some of the incredible Buddy Directors helping make inclusion real across Georgia. These leaders bring joy, heart, and authenticity to their chapters, and they help create the kind of welcoming school communities that Best Buddies is all about.

👏 Shoutout to our amazing Buddy Directors!

Catherine Tyran — Marietta High School
Pragun Divvela — Denmark High School
Blake Askew — Ebenezer Middle School
Bradlee Parris — Fannin County High School
Elly Knowlton — Ebenezer Middle School
Elijah Deloache — Ebenezer Middle School
Joel Kottman — University of North Georgia Dahlonega
Patricia Robinson — Howard Middle School
Kayla Hendley — Fannin County High School
Griffin Brown — Lakeside High School
Jinci Gordy — Georgia Southern University
Jackson Bentley — Denmark High School
Kyla McMahan — Dade County High School
Alex Bartle — Camden County High School
River Kent — Dade Middle School
Emalie Christianson — South Effingham High School
Dalasia Starks — Howard Middle School
Jon Diaz — Decatur High School
Kate Craven — Georgia College & State University
Gennavisia Moss — Ebenezer Middle School
Marvionne Wright — West Chatham Middle School
Emilie Damas — Winder-Barrow High School
Ethan McCollum — Cedar Grove High School
Tammy Schexnaider — Middle Georgia State University
Judy Moore — Beacon Hill Middle School
Robert Sharpton — North Atlanta High School
Jakeri Wilks — Islands High School
Ariel Edwards — Emory University
D’Imani Williamsrose — King Middle School
Emma Miller — Emory University
Catelyn McCuen — Russell Middle School
Betzaida Cordova Mauricio — Chamblee Charter High School
Mackenzie Lisle — Campbell High School
Kevin Kuehn — Georgia College & State University
Sophie Sangster — Johns Creek High School
Macy Johnson — South Tattnall Middle School
Zayne Wolfe — Emory University
Quateria Lowe — Mary Persons High School
Francesca Urbano — Chamblee Charter High School

Thank you for helping make Best Buddies in Georgia more joyful, more inclusive, and more connected. We appreciate you!

🎂March Birthday Shoutouts 🎉

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Let’s celebrate the amazing members of our BBGA family with March birthdays!

🎈 March 3 – Paige Colley
🎈 March 4 – Angela Yeager
🎈 March 7 – Charlie Shaw
🎈 March 11 – Lucy Tyran
🎈 March 12 – Kaylee Barker
🎈 March 15 – Karin Fisher
🎈 March 16 – Brittany Logan
🎈 March 17 – Alexandra Amoroso
🎈 March 17 – Jessica Newman
🎈 March 18 – Dianne Williams
🎈 March 20 – Jaxon Arseneau
🎈 March 23 – Amy Thomas
🎈 March 25 – Cali Barbour

We’re grateful for the kindness, leadership, and energy each of you brings to Best Buddies in Georgia. We appreciate you!

🌱March Momentum: Keep Growing Your Impact!

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Giphy

March is a big month, and this is a great time to keep your chapter energized, organized, and focused on what matters most! As you head into Friendship Walk season, Chapter President recruitment, Buddy Ball season, spring programming, and Best Buddies Leadership Conference registration, here are a few simple ways to stay on track.

👑 Start Thinking About Your Leadership for 2026-2027

Spring is the perfect time to think about who could lead next year. Encourage strong students to apply for Chapter President, invite newer members to step up in small ways, and start identifying future leaders now.

📃Get Ahead on End-of-Year Reports

End-Of-The-Year Reports are now available! I created a guide to help make the process easier for your chapter, just find your school’s name and complete! The sooner you start, the less stressful spring will feel. Please note that completing an EOTY Report is a requirement for all schools, due by May 30th. 

👟🌍 Prioritize Building Community at Friendship Walk & BBLC

One of our biggest priorities this spring is making sure schools are represented at Friendship Walk and Best Buddies Leadership Conference! We would truly love to see your chapter at both. These experiences help students grow as leaders, build community, and represent your school in powerful ways.

We understand that distance plays a significant factor with attending in-person events. With this in mind, f you are unable to make either Friendship Walk events, please let me know! 

We want to do something to allow you to celebrate from your school.

🗣️ Keep the Connection Going!

As schedules get busier, encourage buddy pairs and members to stay connected through simple plans like lunch, a short hangout, or a quick check-in. Small moments still matter.

 🤝Reach Out if You Need Support

You do not have to do this alone! If you need ideas, troubleshooting, or just someone to help think through your next steps, I’m always happy to help.

Keep it simple, keep it meaningful, and keep moving forward!

📥 Stay Connected with Us!

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However your semester is starting, whether it’s busy, calm, exciting, or all of the above, know that we are here to help!

✅ Monthly Chapter Check-In
🔗 Complete Here

✅ Connect with Doug
📧 [email protected]
📅 www.calendly.com/bbgaprograms

✅ Follow Us on Social Media
🔗 Instagram
🔗 Facebook
🔗 LinkedIn

✅ Stay Connected via Remind & GroupMe 
🔗 Remind - Chapter Presidents
🔗 Remind - Faculty Advisors
🔗 GroupMe - Chapter Presidents
🔗 GroupMe - Faculty Advisors

Here’s to a new semester full of steady progress, brave leadership, and unforgettable friendships!

📅Upcoming Events: