Introducing Ava Muench, the Buddy Director at Minnetonka High School! Ava has been involved in Best Buddies for the past five years – since she was an 8th grader at Minnetonka Middle School West! An outgoing and inviting leader, Ava has a way of making everyone feel included and valued everywhere she goes.

This past year has been an incredible year of growth for Ava. Last spring, she was chosen to be the Buddy Director at her high school, then in July she traveled as part of Minnesota’s delegation to the Best Buddies Leadership Conference, supported fellow-high schooler and her now buddy, Audrey Hauser, in Audrey’s Champion of the Year campaign as her Mission Partner, was voted Homecoming Queen at her high school, and most recently, spoke at the BBMN Benefit Concert where she shared her journey with Best Buddies.

At the Benefit Concert, Ava and Audrey talked about the activities they like to do together (like wearing matching shirts to go see movies), the different ways their school chapter spreads inclusion, and why Best Buddies is important overall.

“Best Buddies has taught me how to make connections with people, how to include others and be nice to everyone.”

— Ava

As Buddy Director at Minnetonka High School, Ava plans fun chapter activities, creates buddy pair matches between her peers, leads the icebreaker meetings between new matches, and learns from the other student leaders. She is a natural when it comes to making sure everyone is involved and loves leading the icebreakers because “it’s like putting peanut butter and jelly together to make a delicious sandwich.”

Best Buddies is more than a club to Ava, and the impact is obvious to all who know her.

“I remember before I went to college, I used to ask Ava about her day and her answers were so much shorter. Now she tells me all the details. She gained so much confidence and awareness of Best Buddies being at Leadership Conference.”

— Ellie Muench

Thank you, Ava, for your excitement in including people at your school. We are lucky to have you as such an impactful leader!