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The Philadelphia office of Best Buddies International recognized biology major Nathan Parker ’08 (Milford, N.H.) as Outstanding College Buddy Director of the Year. There are 24 college chapters in the Philadelphia region.
“I’m very honored to receive the award because I have so much respect for the program and what it aims to accomplish,” says Parker. “People with intellectual disabilities are highly disadvantaged in our society, so I’m glad I can help provide buddies in greater Easton with opportunities they wouldn’t normally have.”
Parker, who volunteered with the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program in high school, wanted to continue one-on-one service during his college years and signed up through the Landis Community Outreach Center his first semester on campus. His buddy, a 40-year-old Easton man with an intellectual disability, accompanied him at the awards ceremony.
“My buddy came to the podium to receive the award with me,” says the Trustee Scholar. “He was pumping his fists and celebrating to the crowd. That was my favorite part – that he was so proud.”
Under Parker’s leadership, nine Lafayette students volunteered with the chapter this year. Because Best Buddies requires directors to hold the position for an entire year, Parker is turning over leadership to Marquis Scholar Steven Roe ’08 (Lackawaxen, Pa.), a mechanical engineering major, while he studies abroad in Madrid next spring.
“I’d love to have more [Lafayette volunteers] next year because we had a few buddies in the community whom we were unable to match up,” says Parker. “[Steven], who volunteered with the program this year, will be taking over for next year, so I know the program’s in good hands.”
At the beginning of the school year, college volunteers are matched with buddies from the community referred to Lafayette’s chapter by the Association of Retarded Citizens of Northampton County. All buddies associated with college chapters are 18 or older; Lafayette’s buddies ranged in age from 19 to 40 this year. Volunteers attend monthly chapter meetings and events with their buddies, talk to their buddies weekly, and spend time with them at least twice per month. Parker points out that many volunteers meet with their buddies on a weekly basis.
The Lafayette chapter usually holds its monthly events on campus. This year, they hosted a movie night, game nights in KirbySportsCenter, a pizza party, a holiday party where they decorated cookies and made cards, and a night where a Best Buddies representative helped Lafayette buddies learn computer skills. They also attended the Best Buddies Ball hosted by Ursinus College. Before the end of the semester, the chapter will hold a barbecue sponsored by Delta Upsilon fraternity. One-on-one activities often include bowling, movies, dinner, and sports. Many Lafayette volunteers also helped DeSales University host the Special Olympics in April.
Parker is currently conducting EXCEL Scholars research with Laurie Caslake, assistant professor of biology. At Landis, he also volunteers with Equi-librium, a group that provides equine therapy to people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Along with physics major John Farrar ’07 (Alexandria, Va.), he organized this year’s Lafapalooza. Parker will lead the Habitat for Humanity camp this August during Lafayette’s annual Pre-Orientation Service Program for the Class of 2010, and will lead the program throughout the year. He also is a member of Delta Upsilon and Tennis Club.
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies International is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. There are over 1,200 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally that have Best Buddies chapters.