Southeast High School students filled the commons area during their lunch break on April 1. The Southeast drum line kicked off the festive gathering; students ate their lunches, purchased T-shirts and snacks, and took part in face painting and other activities. It wasn’t an April Fool’s Day celebration but the kickoff of the Best Buddies Friendship Walk scheduled for May.
The first Best Buddies International program has been established in Springfield and students at Southeast High School are breaking barriers. Led by special education teacher Kate Marley, the work brings life skills students together with general education students. Marley says, “This has been life-changing for students as they learn to look at people differently and accept classmates.”
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization that creates friendships and leadership opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded the Special Olympics, and Sargent Shriver, who was the founding director of the Peace Corps. What started as a lone chapter has grown to 3,000 chapters around the world.
In Illinois, the state headquarters is located in Peoria. There are 153 Best Buddies International chapters in Illinois; many are in schools, but chapters can be community-wide also. Becca Impens, the state communications director, joined the group eight years ago and says, “I knew I wanted to be a part of the program when I discovered how this can help people. My nephew is autistic; I want him to be welcomed by others.”
The initiative to start a chapter in Springfield came from incoming District #186 Superintendent Terrance Jordan, who shared information about the program with the Southeast High School principal, Cody Trigg. Trigg approached first-year teacher Marley at the beginning of this school year, asking if she would be willing to develop and lead the work. Marley jumped at the chance.
As a special education teacher, she knows the needs of students and how many in special education are often shunned by other students due to their disabilities. Bringing students from life skills together with students in general education classes was “just the right thing to do to close the gap between students and create inclusivity,” Marley says.
General education students were invited through school announcements to come to a meeting to find out about being a buddy and many showed up. Some couldn’t commit, but 25 students are now part of the group. They are buddies to around 20 special education students.
The group, “more like a club,” Marley says, meets every three weeks after school. The general education students create events for their life skills buddies. The students have not only become friends with students they had never met, but also have taken on the work of organizing, hosting, delegating and more, developing leadership skills.
Daily, students might stop by a classroom to say hi, high-five a buddy in the hallway or eat lunch together. Marley says, “the life skills students had their own area to eat; now they are welcomed into the regular school area.”
Life skills teacher Miles Tepatti is enthusiastic about the impact of the program. “My students are often seen as different; many times, in my own schooling, I saw that special ed students were often housed in a separate area of the school. This program is getting rid of barriers. I see smiles of joy on the faces of my students.”
The group chose a student president, senior Lindsay Auguis. She says, “I love that Best Buddies opens students’ eyes to the other class down the hall and helps them to see that they are no different than us. Being mean and judgmental is the ugliest thing you can ever do.”
The group decided they needed to raise money for a special event for their buddies. When a jewelry maker donated items to the group, they set up a stand at the Golden Hour Bake House downtown (now closed) and made $200. Then, they took more jewelry to Southeast basketball games and made another $300.
The money allowed them to host a holiday party for their buddies. The life skills students enjoyed hot cocoa, treats, pizza, crafts, face painting and even a dance in the Southeast library. A Valentine’s party mirrored the holiday event.
The impact of the program reaches more than the students in it. Tepatti says, “I see our life skills students approach students who are in general ed but not officially a Best Buddy, and they, too, are welcoming – giving a hug or smile.”
Best Buddies International holds annual Friendship Walks in more than 80 cities across the world that draw over 50,000 participants. Marley learned from her Peoria contact of the Friendship Walk and the need to raise close to $15,000 so the group has been selling T-shirts, looking at other fundraising opportunities and seeking donations. Jordan found a donor who helped pay for the May 3Friendship Walk and will also help start chapters at both Lanphier High School and Springfield High School next year.
The Friendship Walk planning is going strong for events at the new Spartan Field with food trucks, infield activities, music, track walks and more. Marley says, “I know it will be smiles and happiness.” ο
Cinda Ackerman Klickna loved visiting the April event as she previously taught at Southeast High School.
This article appears in Parent Summer 2026.
