Meet the YLC 22-23!!
Meet the YLC
2022-23
Garett Tomasek, 21, Texas
Chair
Garett is the Chair of the YLC where he oversees many different initiatives. He was drawn to the holistic inclusive environment that Best Buddies was fostering in schools throughout his school district. Additionally, he joined the YLC because he wanted to further his leadership development in Best Buddies. His favorite thing about the YLC is the opportunity to create relationships with participants in Best Buddies around the world who are dedicated leaders striving to push the mission of inclusivity in all aspects of their lives. Some interesting facts about him are that he has a cat named Zeke and he started 9 Best Buddies chapters when he was a chapter president!
Maddie Quigley, 22, Missouri
Co-Chair
Maddie oversees the Leadership Cohort. She joined Best Buddies because she believes in INCLUSION. Maddie believes that everyone deserves to be accepted no matter their ability. She joined Best Buddies to be a leader and make a difference! Maddie wanted to join the YLC to utilize the resources provided by Best Buddies to help her fellow participants. The YLC offers a platform for young leaders to make a change and play out their ideas on a large scale. Her favorite thing about the YLC is that she loves the people who are apart of the council. Maddie says that there is nothing like being surrounded and working with some of the most successful and inspiring leaders in the country. Some fun facts about Maddie is that her birthday is on St. Patrick's Day and she works in cybersecurity!
Margo Melay 34, Connecticut
Second Year Co-Chair
Margo's cohort is Resources. She oversees Mental Health and Wellness, Employment, and Accessibility. A friend was adamant about suggesting that she joins. So she did just that. She attended her first chapter event and never looked back. She's continued her involvement with Best Buddies through leadership being an Ambassador and joining the YLC. She wanted to join the YLC to not only continue her leadership in Best Buddies but to advocate and be apart of the greater change within the disability community. She loves making connections and hearing ideas from members. Some fun facts about her is that she won 2016 National Miss Amazing Senior Miss Queen and her first concert was the Spice Girls.
Sofie Dalton, 20, Virginia
Co-Chair
Sofie Dalton oversees YouTube, YLC Blogs, and Social Media. She joined Best Buddies her freshman year of high school because she wanted to make friends and have a positive impact on her school community. Best Buddies allowed her to do that and has given her so many opportunities, wonderful people, and amazing memories! She also joined the YLC because she wanted to have a larger role in Best Buddies because it has made such a big impact on her life, and so do the people that she gets to collaborate with on the YLC. Her two fun facts are she can lick her elbow and her former high school has had 6 members on the YLC over the years!
Marina Rouse, 20, Massachusetts
Second Year Member
Marina is working on the Social Media initiative. She joined Best Buddies initially on a whim freshman year of high school because she was unsure of her place and purpose. Marina's older brother knew about Best Buddies and encouraged her to get involved. She joined with very little understanding of the love and truth behind the organization, but since then she has grown a deep passion for the mission and gratitude for every friend and opportunity it has given her. Marina joined the YLC because Best Buddies is the community she wants to be surrounded by, and to help add to this mission is a beautiful gift. For every minute Marina has spent with Best Buddies, it has been given back to her twice over in perspective, love, and an embracing community, showing her that in a welcoming world, everyone is equal and friendship always overcomes. Some fun facts about Marina is that she loves to cook, often finding recipes to feed her whole family, and she is a horrible singer, but can recite most Broadways Musicals.
Jada Thompson, 24, Illinois
Second Year Member
Jada Thompson is on the mental health and wellness initiative. She initially joined Best Buddies in hopes of finding a job, but ended up learning about the other programs as well as the mission. Best Buddies has truly given her the confidence to spread global inclusion and meet peers who are just like her. She wanted to join YLC to not only connect with other peers but to gain leadership skills and work on projects to make Best Buddies more inclusive.What she loves about YLC is being able to work in different initiatives. She loves that she gets to work with so many kind humans on spreading the mission of inclusion.Something interesting about Jada is that she is a preemie. She was born 5 weeks early. She can also sing and loves collecting vinyls.
First Year Member
Matias is on the student advisory board initiative. He joined Best Buddies so that he could support my friends while also having fun and meeting new people. He wanted to join the YLC because his love for Best Buddies quickly grew and he knew he wanted to work with like minded people to create change together and the YLC was the perfect place to accomplish that. His two fun facts are he loves to travel and strongly dislikes meat!
Isabelle Hughes, 16, Texas
First Year Member
Isabella works on SAB initiative. She is going to be the Co-Chair on the North TX SAB next year! She joined Best Buddies because she thought it was an amazing way to make new friends and meet new people. She joined the YLC because she wanted to have a larger role in Best Buddies since it has had such a big impact on her life! Although she has been a part of the YLC for about a month, she loves the people that she gets to collaborate with on the board, as well as the impact they are able to make on Best Buddies as a whole. She is not the best at fun facts, but these are her go to‘s: "I am a certified scuba diver; I have traveled to 5 continents!"
Evan Story, 28, Florida
First Year Member
Evan works on the employment initiative. He joined Best Buddies because he enjoys events such as the friendship walks and Gala. He loves to help spread inclusion because inclusion is never canceled! He joined the YLC because he wanted to help build my leadership in his community and in the state of Florida. His two fun facts are "I love to play golf and I have visited 14 MLB ballparks!"
Ben Haworth, 15, California
First Year Member
Ben is currently working on the fundraising initiative. He joined because he wants to help people who are less fortunate than himself. Additionally, he wanted to join YLC to become more involved with a cause that he feels very strongly about. His favorite thing about YLC is meeting new people and collaborating with them on our various projects. Some interesting facts about him are that "I am on a competitive rowing team, I used to rock climb, and I have 2 dogs!"
Second Year Member
Vanessa works on the Youtube and accessibility initiatives. She joined Best Buddies for the numerous opportunities they provide to make friends in the Friendship Program, being paired with a speech coach in the Leadership Development (Ambassador) Program, and finding a job that is the right fit. This year her goal is to improve the Best Buddies experience for people with and without disabilities. Her favorite thing about the YLC is they are ALWAYS there to lend a hand, an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. Living in a world not designed for people with physical disabilities like herself means every day is a challenge but with a support system like the YLC by your side anything is possible. Some interesting facts about her are that "I have explored Australia, Canada, Europe, Mexico and the United States and I have watched 130 Hallmark Movies and counting since the pandemic!"
Zane Landin, 24, California
First Year Member
Zane is working on the accessibility initiative. He joined Best Buddies in high school because he knew different people in the organization and wanted to get involved. He was involved his first year in a buddy family. He took a break and got more involved his senior year as a cabinet leader. He loved the experience and is incredibly passionate about disability and mental health justice. Best Buddies was the first organization he joined that was dedicated to disability rights. It launched his journey as an advocate. He joined because he wanted to give back to the organization. His favorite thing about the YLC is belonging to a community of young advocates who are passionate about what he is passionate about. Disability is such an underrepresented group, so he sometimes feels alone as an advocate. It is great to belong to this community. Some fun facts about him are that "I love to spin pens and juggle. I also love listening to scary stories, true-crime, and mystery podcasts."
First Year Member
Nathan working on YLC blogs. He joined Best Buddies during his freshman year of high school after hearing more about the organization's values of inclusion and meaningful friendships. He also joined Best Buddies due to his younger brother who has a disability; he has greatly inspired Nathan to work with peers of all abilities within his school's chapter. He wanted to join the YLC in order to play a larger role within Best Buddies International, as well as help make tangible action to support the organization's mission on a global scale. His favorite thing about the YLC is working with likeminded people of all different backgrounds and experiences, who are all committed to inclusivity and friendship. Some interesting facts about him are that "I am the oldest of four siblings and I have been playing piano for 11 years!"
Maya Ali, 17, Texas
First Year Member
Maya is on the YLC blogs initiative. She joined Best Buddies because she saw how happy her younger brother was because of his friendship with his buddy and I wanted to make others feel just as happy and inclusive. After she joined Best Buddies, she was completely in love with the mission and knew she wanted a bigger role. Maya joined the YLC because she wanted to be in an organization that works for the Best Buddies mission on a larger scale. Her favorite part of the YLC is working with like-minded people who are just as passionate across the continent. Some interesting facts about her is that "I collect keychains from every new city I visit and I listen to music from over 15 languages!"
Jamie Galvin, 27, Tennessee
Second Year Member
Jamie is on the YLC blogs initiative. She joined Best Buddies to make new friends! She joined YLC to make new friends and grow her leadership skills. Her two fun facts are "I can make animal noises! And one of my ears is larger than the other."
Second Year Member
Michelle is working on the Employment and SAB initiatives. She joined Best Buddies because she believes everyone deserves a friend. She thinks that the world would be a better place if we were all more accepting of others and inclusive to allow for stronger connections with our peers. Michelle believes that all anyone really wants is to feel like they can be their most authentic self and valued by others. She knows what it feels like to be excluded, and she wanted to help prevent others from experiencing that. Michelle joined the YLC to find other opportunities to get involved as a leader in her community within the scope of Best Buddies. Her favorite thing about the YLC is having the opportunity to get involved in the annual leadership conference as well as meeting likeminded individuals who are just as passionate about accessibility, inclusivity, and friendship as she is. Some fun facts about Michelle is that she is double jointed in both her elbows and she has a sister that is almost 16 years older than her!
Paul Brooks, 28, Nevada
Second Year Member
Paul is working on the employment initiative. He joined Best Buddies to make a difference and change people's lives. He wanted to join the YLC due to its innovations. His favorite thing about the YLC is sharing new ideas. Some fun facts about Paul is that he is an athlete and he loves sports.
Grace Elmore, 19, New York
First Year Member
Grace is working on the Social Media initiative. She joined Best Buddies to make new friends and to help spread love, smiles, and awareness! Grace wanted to join the YLC in order to expand her own capacity to influence the lives of others as well as learn and grow alongside peers that share her excitement for spreading positivity and inclusion. Her favorite thing about the YLC is that everyone is always ready to share their own excitements and accomplishments and excited to hear about everyone else's too. Some fun facts about Grace is that she is involved with her university's varsity football team as well as the on-campus art museum, and she loves trying to teach herself to learn new instruments!
Eleanor Hawkins, 17, Washington D.C.
First Year Member
Eleanor is working on the Mental Health & Wellness initiative. She joined Best Buddies for several reasons, most importantly helping to contribute and build a community that values each individual member, independent of their ability. As someone who struggled with feelings of isolation due to her own disability, Eleanor really valued Best Buddies' mission to create a more inclusive world in which friendships, leadership positions, and employment are accessible to everyone. Eleanor wanted to join the YLC because she had really enjoyed the project and initiative based work she had done on her state's local high school leadership cohort and wanted to become more involved with Best Buddies. Her cohort had brainstormed several initiative ideas yet didn't have time to work on implementing them; therefore, the YLC's mission to improve the Best Buddies experience through action and development felt like a really special opportunity for her. Eleanor's favorite thing about the YLC is meeting inspiring people from around the country. She has loved connecting with everyone and hearing their stories. Some fun facts about Eleanor is that she once memorized 209 digits of pi and she plays the baritone saxophone.
Danielle Tran, 19, California
Second Year Member
Danielle is working on the Mental Health & Wellness initiative. She joined Best Buddies after being actively involved in the special education program throughout middle school. Coming into high school, Best Buddies seemed like a natural fit. Not only did she discover an incredibly vibrant and welcoming community, but she also made some of her closest lifelong friends. Danielle wanted to join the YLC to expand her involvement beyond the Friendship pillar of Best Buddies. She feels so fortunate to have been involved in a variety of projects her first term, whether it be the panel hosted by the Mental Health & Wellness Initiative, or the Accessibility Roundtable. Danielle's favorite thing about the YLC is all of the incredible people. She loves being a part of a community that shares common values, but comes from all different walks of life. Danielle feels lucky to be working with such genuine and passionate individuals! Some fun facts about Danielle is that she is a twin and she listens to the Kung Fu Panda 2 soundtrack on repeat.
Kelly Cotter, 18, Washington
Second Year Member
Kelly is working on the YouTube, Employment, and SAB initiatives. She joined Best Buddies because she believes in the organization's mission. Kelly joined the YLC to have more of an impact on the Best Buddies program. Her favorite thing about the YLC is all of the people she has met. Some fun facts about Kelly is that she grew up abroad and she joined Best Buddies her sophomore year of high school!
Ian Durelli, 18, Tennessee
First Year Member
Ian is on the Employment initiative. He joined Best Buddies to make new friends and joined YLC to change the world. Also, he coaches high school rowing and works as a manager of an aquatics facility.
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