The Seven Society recognized the chapter for “embracing differences and fostering care and love for one another.”

Best Buddies at the University of Virginia was awarded the prestigious James Earle Sargeant Award from the Seven Society. The award recognizes a student organization that has worked consistently to benefit the University community.

The Seven Society, founded around 1905, is the university’s most secretive secret society with a significant philanthropic presence.

In an inspirational and reflective letter (photographed and typed below), the Seven Society celebrates Best Buddies and UVA’s unwavering dedication to friendship and inclusion, which has enriched the university community, writing:

“Through the impactful work that they do, they teach us all a profound lesson in humanity – that in the simple act of extending a hand, we have the power to transform lives. Though they may not always see it, every student’s life is touched by the sincerity, understanding, and generosity that Best Buddies infuses into our community.”

There are only seven members of the Seven Society at a time, and their identities are not revealed until their death. Notable members include Edward Stettinius, Jr., secretary of state under Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, and first US ambassador to the United Nations; Frank Wisner, head of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Plans during the 1950s; and John Lloyd Newcomb, second president of the University of Virginia.

The Seven Society’s logo is the numeral seven surrounded by the alpha (A), omega (Ω), and infinity (∞) signs, and is marked, among other places on campus, in front of the Thomas Jefferson statue. The only way to contact the Seven Society is to leave a letter in the crook of Jefferson’s arm or at the statue’s base in the rotunda.

“Given the secrecy of the Seven Society,” Best Buddies at UVA chapter president Kendall Scherer said, “I have no idea who wrote the letter. To me, this is also a testament to how much we have truly enriched the community.”

“I think this award shows … that Best Buddies’ mission is paying off—especially in the places that need it most,” Best Buddies at UVA vice president Bea Webster said. “This award embodies the fact that people with disabilities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County are seen, included, loved, and supported, which was not the case historically.”

Best Buddies at UVA has been recognized multiple times for its terrific leadership and community impact, winning the Outstanding Chapter of the Year at the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference in 2023.

Best Buddies at UVA hosted their own satellite Friendship Walks in 2023 and 2024, which, as the Seven Society wrote, “exemplifies their ethos—an event where laughter and stories emblematic of their mission, transforms mere steps into a march of solidarity, leaving a trail of uplifted hearts and spirits in its wake.”

Read the Seven Society’s letter below and watch the Valedictory Exercises around the 52:15 mark to hear it read aloud during the ceremony.

Continue reading to learn what the James Earle Sargeant Award means to Best Buddies at UVA’s chapter President, Kendall Scherer, and Vice President, Bea Webster, and the extraordinary change they’ve seen in their community.

17 May 2024

James Earle Sargeant Award

Best Buddies at UVA

Today, The Seven Society has the privilege of celebrating a student organization that has dedicated itself to enriching the University community, Best Buddies at the University of Virginia. Their unwavering dedication to friendship and inclusion has quietly uplifted spirits and fostered a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the reaches of Grounds.

In the bustling rhythm of university life, Best Buddies stands as a sanctuary of sincere connection. The Friendship Walk exemplifies their ethos—an event where laughter and stories emblematic of their mission, transforms mere steps into a march of solidarity, leaving a trail of uplifted hearts and spirits in its wake. It is the simple, pure joy that Best Buddies radiates – the kind that has resonated through the laughter and cheers at the Friendship Walk, the shared moments of camaraderie during festive occasions, and the collective triumphs celebrated over basketball games and café conversations. Their ethos of inclusion is not just spoken but loved out in the everyday acts of kindness that define the spirit of this group.

As The Seven Society reflects upon the many ways in which Best Buddies has contributed to the vibrancy of our community, we find ourselves inspired by the grace and generosity embedded in their mission. Through the impactful work that they do, they teach us all a profound lesson in humanity – that in the simple act of extending a hand, we have the power to transform lives. Though they may not always see it, every student’s life is touched by the sincerity, understanding, and generosity that Best Buddies infuses into our community.

Best Buddies serves as a model that we all should strive to achieve, embodying the values of embracing differences and fostering care and love for one another. Their commitment to inclusivity and their tireless efforts to create a community where everyone feels valued and accepted are a testament to the kind of world we should all strive to create. The Seven Society holds in high regard the impact they have made and anticipates with great enthusiasm the continued blossoming of their collective and individual journeys, here on Grounds and in the wider world beyond, enriching our university community in immeasurable ways.

Bea Webster – Best Buddies at UVA Vice President & Former Co-President

Hi! My name is Bea Webster, and I was Co-President of Best Buddies at UVA with Kendall Scherer my third year and Vice President my fourth year. I think the reason this award means so much to me personally, Best Buddies at UVA, and Charlottesville as a whole, is the fact that Charlottesville and the state of Virginia have a particularly sinister history in how they have treated people with special needs.

Being a public policy major with a focus on disability policy, I learned how horrific this history truly is. Virginia was the first state to pass a sterilization act, the Sterilization Act of 1924, and then performed the first sterilization in 1927 on Ms. Carrie Buck, from the Supreme Court case Buck V. Bell. Ms. Buck was from Charlottesville. UVA had a harrowing eugenics department that spearheaded the pseudo-research to support such public policy. The Sterilization Act was not repealed until the 1970s, and former Governor Mark Warner made an apology in the early 2000s.

While public remarks were made and laws were repealed, Charlottesville citizens with disabilities have been continuously excluded by UVA and its ableism. Best Buddies at UVA aimed to bring Charlottesville citizens with disabilities into this space that they had been excluded from, whether it be physically or academically.

I think this award shows that Virginia and UVA are starting to right their historical wrongs against individuals with special needs and that Best Buddies’ mission is paying off—especially in the places that need it most. This award embodies the fact that people with disabilities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County are seen, included, loved, and supported, which was not the case historically.

On a personal level, this is especially important to me because my older brother has a severe disability. He always struggled to make friends and be included, and Best Buddies gave that to him. The reason I joined Best Buddies at UVA is because I wanted to give to others what he received: friendship and community. This award demonstrates, to me, that our club has achieved this goal, but there is so much left to give and an even larger impact to be made.

I can’t wait to see what future Best Buddies leaders, like our incoming president Ashley Hemp, do to further Best Buddies’ mission at UVA and in Charlottesville.

Kendall Scherer – Best Buddies at UVA President & Former Co-President

Hello! My name is Kendall Scherer and I have been President of Best Buddies at UVA for the past two years, including a year of being co-Presidents with Bea. It is difficult for me to condense this down, for I could write a whole book on my experience with Best Buddies.

I started volunteering with Area 3 Special Olympics my senior year of high school and was in awe of the impact it had on the athletes’ physical and mental health. I wanted to continue working with people with IDD when starting at UVA, so I joined Best Buddies. I grew up about 20 minutes away from UVA, so I was excited to find much overlap between members of Best Buddies and friends I had made in Special Olympics.

When I first joined, everything was on Zoom. We had about 20 people at each event, and everyone was itching to be back in person. I could see the potential in the club and wanted to help it grow as the pandemic started to improve, so I joined the executive team as the Event Planner in my second year. I loved it so much that I became the President in my third and fourth years. Through these roles and with the help of the awesome executive team, including Bea, I was able to significantly expand the club. We currently have 65 buddies with IDD and almost 90 student buddies.

Our Friendship Walk in April had over 150 people. We had many who had never attended a Best Buddies event – local kids, athletes from Special Olympics, UVA student-athletes, parents of students and buddies, and many more. The event showed me the true importance of inclusion. The smiles and feelings of pure joy were contagious. The same can be said about all of our events. Everyone left happy and excitedly awaiting the next time we would be together.

Throughout my time as President, I was often hyper-focused on creating the best possible experience for the buddies at each individual event. My executive team and I were successful at this. However, this award is a great reminder that outside of specific events, our overall presence is positively contributing to the larger community. Given the secrecy of the Seven Society, I have no idea who wrote the letter. To me, this is also a testament to how much we have truly enriched the community.

Leading Best Buddies pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and I am forever grateful for the experience. It taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, dedication, empathy, and my core values. Witnessing a dedicated team (my executive members and myself) collaborate to make a significant difference for a marginalized group—and seeing that impact spread to the broader community—was truly inspiring. This experience proved that passion and hard work can achieve remarkable results. It fueled a fire in me to continue to advocate for underserved communities, something I now want to dedicate my life to.

Congratulations to Best Buddies at the University of Virginia for being awarded the Prestigious James Earle Sargeant Award from the Seven Society, and thank you for your incredible work creating a positive experience for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities on the UVA campus and in the greater community.