Building Inclusion at Hough: How Best Buddies Creates Meaningful and Long-lasting Friendships

February 20, 2026 - Drew St. Denis (11)

Have you ever noticed how some of the strongest moments and memories at Hough don’t happen just in the classrooms, but in simple conversations in the hallway? Hough High School is more than academics and athletics; it is a community unified by connection. One club, in particular, works year-round to ensure every student feels seen, included, and valued. The club being described is called Best Buddies.

Best Buddies is a national organization with a chapter right at our school. Its mission is to promote one-on-one friendships between students with and without disabilities. Unlike many clubs that focus on competition or academics, Best Buddies centers on something even more important than those: relationships. Through organized pairings, members can have the opportunity to build genuine friendships that go beyond school events and throughout the year. The goal of Best Buddies is simple yet powerful—to ensure no student feels left out.

At Hough, Best Buddies is advised by Mr. Zachary Sanford, who helps guide the club’s mission and activities. The student leadership team includes President Kate Stutheit, Vice President Sydney Standish, Secretary Grace Myers, and Treasurer Cayden Rose. Together, they organize events, plan buddy pairings, and coordinate activities that bring students together in meaningful ways.

Throughout the year, the club hosts hangouts, celebrations, and school activities made to bring students together in relaxed, easygoing environments. These events allow students to step outside their usual social circles and connect with others in ways they might not have otherwise. What makes Best Buddies different is that it is not just about attending a monthly meeting. It is about commitment, consistency, the willingness to put yourself out there, and genuinely showing up for someone else.

The impact of the club goes beyond the events themselves. Members can learn to develop empathy, patience, communication skills, and leadership experience simply by building meaningful friendships. At the same time, students involved are able to grow, gaining confidence and a stronger sense of belonging within their own school. In a large school like Hough, that sense of connection and self-identity can make all the difference in what their school experience is really like.

In a school as big as Hough, it can be easy to stay within our comfortable, familiar friend groups. Best Buddies challenges us to expand those circles and see the value in every person around us. It reminds us that inclusion is not just something we talk and hear about, but something we can actually practice with Best Buddies. Clubs like Best Buddies help turn our high school into a true community where everyone feels they belong.