When students at Murray High join the Best Buddies chapter, the bonds they form often turn into lifelong, inspiring friendships.

The connections made between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities go beyond casual friendships. Together, these students not only uplift one another, but also actively serve and support their community.

Recently, 27 students and staff members from Murray High were recognized at a Utah Jazz game as part of the 2024 Show Up Service High School Challenge. The group was honored by Utah First Lady Abby Cox and Utah Jazz owner Ashley Smith at a pregame dinner held on the top floor of the Delta Center. Following the dinner, the Best Buddies representatives were acknowledged during the third-quarter timeout on the NBA floor.

Murray High’s Best Buddies chapter was one of only four high school groups selected for recognition from more than 40 participating clubs and teams. The invitation came from Cox and Smith, who encouraged local students to engage in community service while promoting unity through their efforts.

The students in the Murray High Best Buddies chapter chose to host a Halloween party not only for themselves, but also for the school’s 30 daycare children, said chapter adviser Jessie Agiriga.

“We split everybody into groups, so they all participated together,” she said. “They made their own Play-Doh and then made monsters out of it. They made monster bean bags and played a dice game for candy. They did pumpkin bowling and pinned the eye on this monster. We did gunny sack races and relay races and we ended with a dance party. It was a lot
of fun.”

Many of these students also participate in the school’s Special Olympics unified sports teams, which carried out a service project earlier this school year by cleaning up the school grounds.

“Our students have a lot of pride in being Spartans and representing the school,” Agiriga said. λ