{"id":183341,"date":"2024-08-09T12:05:33","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T16:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=183341"},"modified":"2024-08-09T12:05:33","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T16:05:33","slug":"everybuddy-belongs-the-best-buddies-leadership-conference-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/connecticut\/everybuddy-belongs-at-best-buddies-leadership-conference","title":{"rendered":"Everybuddy Belongs: The Best Buddies Leadership Conference 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
The journey to the conference wasn\u2019t easy. Due to a global travel outage, many attendees faced delays. But the Connecticut students, like everyone else, persevered. They remembered why they were going to BBLC: to learn, to grow, and to bring the spirit of Best Buddies back to their communities. Their determination paid off, and they all made it to Indiana safely, ready to dive into an unforgettable experience.<\/p>\n
The conference kicked off with opening ceremonies that were nothing short of spectacular. As nearly 2,000 attendees filled the IU auditorium, the air buzzed with excitement. Lights flashed, music played, and everyone sang, danced, and cheered together. The energy in the room was electric, and it set the tone for the entire weekend.<\/p>\n
The opening ceremony featured amazing performances, including the exceptionally talented blind singer Marlana Vanhoose, an awesome DJ, the cover boyband Larger Than Life, and even the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders. Each performance was filled with joy and inspiration, making everyone feel like they were part of something special.<\/p>\n
Best Buddies Founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver welcomed everyone with an inspiring speech. He encouraged the leaders to take on challenges and be the best they can for their members, buddies, and communities. His words motivated everyone in the room to strive for greatness and to bring that energy back home.<\/p>\n
The night was made even more special when Miss America and Miss USA joined the celebration. They helped recognize outstanding participants and chapters, showing how much Best Buddies means to so many people. For Mia Niglio, Vice President of the Cheshire High School chapter, the opening ceremony was her favorite part of the conference. She said, \u201cThe talent and energy on stage and in the auditorium were so incredibly amazing. I\u2019ve never cried so many happy tears, and I still get chills thinking about it!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n