Nevae Grandison, Buddy Director for the University of Delaware Best Buddies chapter, recently represented Delaware at the 2026 Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC), joining thousands of student leaders, advisors, and advocates from across the globe for a weekend dedicated to inclusion, leadership, and friendship.

As Buddy Director, Nevae plays an important role in creating meaningful one-to-one friendships, helping to organize chapter events, and helping foster a welcoming and inclusive campus community. Her passion for building connections and ensuring everyone feels valued has made a lasting impact on the University of Delaware chapter and the students it serves.

Attending BBLC gave Nevae the opportunity to strengthen her leadership skills while connecting with fellow Best Buddies leaders from around the world. Throughout the weekend, she participated in educational workshops, inspiring keynote sessions, and the interactive World Café discussions, where attendees shared ideas and strategies for growing stronger, more inclusive chapters. These sessions encouraged collaboration, creative thinking, and leadership development while reinforcing the core mission of Best Buddies.

One of Nevae’s favorite parts of the conference was meeting students and advisors from different states and learning how they create opportunities for friendship, leadership, and inclusion in their own communities. The experience provided fresh ideas that she is excited to bring back to the University of Delaware chapter, helping to create even more engaging programming and meaningful opportunities for members.

In addition to the educational sessions, Nevae enjoyed participating in the conference’s signature events, including the Opening Ceremonies, the Best Buddies Games, and the Festival of Friendship. These memorable moments celebrated the power of inclusion while highlighting the friendships that make Best Buddies so special.

Reflecting on her first BBLC experience, Nevae shared,

“I loved BBLC so much! This was my first year, and I would love to go back. It was a lot of fun, and I learned so many great things that I can take back to my chapter at the University of Delaware. I can’t wait to use what I learned to help our chapter continue to grow and create even more opportunities for inclusion and friendship.”

Best Buddies Delaware is proud to have dedicated student leaders like Nevae representing our state. Her commitment to friendship, leadership, and inclusion continues to make a positive difference on campus, and we look forward to seeing all she accomplishes in the year ahead!