| On July 24 - 27 2009, 900 participants from around the world gathered at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana to celebrate 20 years of friendships and jobs at the Best Buddies International 20th Annual Leadership Conference. Working under the theme “We are Best Buddies”, participants spent three days learning about how to successfully lead their chapters, promote social inclusion in their communities, and advocate for people with intellectual disabilities.
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While celebrating the past 20 years of friendships, Best Buddies highlighted schools that went above and beyond the mission in the 2008-2009 school year by honoring 33 outstanding chapters from around the world. Applause filled the Indiana University Auditorium as student representatives were called to the stage to receive their award from Founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver.
Each year, Best Buddies International takes on the difficult task of selecting the most outstanding high school and college chapters to be recognized for their efforts to successfully achieve our mission. Award winners were chosen based on quality of one-to-one friendships, group outings, chapter involvement, community awareness, and chapter communication. The schools selected went above and beyond in each of these areas, truly changing the lives of people, one friendship at a time.
“Best Buddies International celebrates the efforts of our exceptional high school and college chapters, which have developed incredible one-to-one friendships and strengthen the Best Buddies mission in their schools,” said Mia Mulholland, Director of Programs for Best Buddies. “Each chapter’s creativity, dedication and hard work play an important role in furthering the social inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within their communities and around the world.”
Best Buddies International would like to congratulate the following chapters that were recognized at the Best Buddies 20th Annual Leadership Conference Award Ceremony.
Overall Outstanding College Chapter Ball State University First Runner-Up Overall Outstanding College ChapterLoyola University Outstanding College ChaptersDuquesne University Marquette University Miami University of Ohio Rafael Uribe Uribe University of Illinois University of Michigan University of Notre Dame Universidad de los Andes Vanderbilt University Overall Outstanding High School Chapter
 Adlai E. Stevenson High School Fi rst Runner-Up Overall Outstanding High School Chapter
George C. Marshall High School Outstanding High School ChaptersBrownsburg High School Clear Brook High School Edgewater High School George C. Marshall High School Higley High School Iowa City High School John Burroughs High School Marcos de Niza High School Mission Hills High School Mount Carmel High School North Central High School North Miami Beach Senior High School Raymond S. Kellis High School Riverview High School Riverside Brookfield High School Robert A. Millikan High School Skyline High School Troy High School Vanden High School Walter Johnson High School
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