Utah State Best Buddies Program Receives National Attention

Two participants of Utah State University’s chapter of the Best Buddies College service program have been chosen by International Best Buddies as one of ten pairs to participate in the inaugural “2004 Volvo Hearst Castle Challenge” in central California.

 

Marketing senior Brock Anderson and his buddy Stephen White, a 32-year-old university housekeeper with an intellectual disability, were also filmed for the CBS program Sports Spectaculars to be aired Nov. 6 at 2:30 p.m.

 

Anderson and White have been preparing for the past few weeks for the race scheduled for Oct. 16. The Volvo Hearst Castle Challenge is a bicycle race of 15, 30 or 100 miles down the Pacific Coast Highway from Carmel to the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Calif.

 

“The Best Buddies program is so great,” said Anderson. “For me this is a great opportunity to learn from Stephen.”

 

In addition to Best Buddies, Utah State has several programs to assist persons with disabilities, including the nationally renowned Center for Persons with Disabilities.

 

“I like the programs at Utah State,” said Stephen’s mother, Celia White. “Stephen needs to be in, and part of, the world.”

 

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Best Buddies has been operating successfully at Utah State for several years and currently has 40 “buddy pairs” and 10 student volunteers.

 

“Brock’s done a good job letting everyone know what Best Buddies is all about,” said April Ricks, program manager for Best Buddies Utah. “They’ve both helped everyone catch the spirit the program.”

 

“This is going to be great,” said Anderson. “Stephen is going to steal the show.”